Apolipoprotein A-I concentration in tears in diabetic retinopathy.
BACKGROUND
Apolipoprotein concentrations in reflex tears from healthy and noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) subjects were measured and correlated with the stage of diabetic retinopathy.


RESULTS
The apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I) concentrations in the tears from NIDDM patients with retinopathy were significantly higher than those from patients with no or negligible retinopathy (P<0.05), and apo A-I was not detected in healthy subjects by Western blotting. No reactive band was detected on apo A-I by Western blotting for nitrotyrosine, a marker for peroxynitrite oxidation of the tear proteins. Apo A-I concentration in tears was significantly correlated with the stage of retinopathy (r= 0.598, n = 59, P < 0.001). No apo A-I gene expression was detected in the conjunctiva by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that there is increased secretion of native apo A-I from the main lacrimal gland in patients with advanced diabetic retinopathy.
Kawai
S
S
Addresses 1st Department of Biochemistry, Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical School, Japan. Shin_K@saitama-med.ac.jp
Nakajima
T
T
Hokari
S
S
Komoda
T
T
Kawai
K
K
D000368:Aged; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000378:metabolism; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000378:metabolism*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D013666:Tears / Q000378:metabolism*
D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D005136:Eye Proteins; C042434:tear proteins