Circulating anti-pericyte autoantibodies are present in Type 2 diabetic patients and are associated with non-proliferative retinopathy.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to determine the prevalence of anti-pericyte autoantibodies in Type 2 diabetes and to characterize these autoantibodies as new markers of disease activity in diabetic retinopathy.


METHODS
A total of 299 patients with Type 2 diabetes participated in this study. Retinopathy was assessed by 7-field stereo fundus photography and was graded according to the ETDRS scale. Serum anti-pericyte autoantibodies were detected by immunofluorescence on tissue cultured bovine retinal pericytes.


RESULTS
The prevalence of anti-pericyte autoantibodies in Type 2 diabetic patients was 54% and was approximately equal in men and women. The prevalence was approximately 55% with retinopathy at grades from 10 to 53. At grades above 53 the prevalence declined to 23% ( p<0.0001). The highest prevalence by duration of diabetes, 70%, was found at 0 to 5 years and the lowest, 25% at more than 25 years duration ( p<0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Anti-pericyte autoantibodies are present at high prevalence in Type 2 diabetes. Their presence during earlier stages of retinopathy could be due to a reaction with antigens expressed by "activated" pericytes. The decline in antibody prevalence in advanced retinopathy could mark pericyte loss and progression to an angiogenic retinal milieu.
Nayak
R C
RC
Department of Ophthalmology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Tufts Center for Vision Research and New England Eye Center, Tufts-New England Medical Center (Box450), 750 Washington Street, MA 02111, Boston, USA. rnayak@tufts-nemc.org
Agardh
C D
CD
Kwok
M G K
MG
Stjernquist
H
H
Farthing-Nayak
P J
PJ
Agardh
E
E
D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020286:Pericytes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors
D001323:Autoantibodies; D015415:Biomarkers