Increased levels of pigment epithelium-derived factor in aqueous humor of patients with uveitis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether aqueous humor levels of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) are increased in patients with uveitis


METHODS
Aqueous humor levels of PEDF and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) were determined by ELISA in 34 uveitis samples and 9 cataract control samples.


RESULTS
Aqueous humor PEDF and TNFalpha levels were significantly higher in patients with uveitis than in controls (mean (SD) 6.4 (0.8) v 1.3 (0.2) microg/ml and 14.7 (3.8) v 4.2 (0.4) pg/ml, respectively; p<0.01). A positive correlation between PEDF and TNFalpha was found in patients with uveitis (r = 0.40, p<0.01). Furthermore, PEDF levels in aqueous humor were increased in proportion to the disease activity of uveitis.


CONCLUSIONS
The results show that aqueous humor levels of PEDF are increased in patients with uveitis. Our observations suggest that aqueous humor levels of PEDF may be increased as a countersystem against inflammation in uveitis.
Yoshida
Yumiko
Y
Department of Ophthalmology, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume 830-0011, Japan.
Yamagishi
Sho-Ichi
S
Matsui
Takanori
T
Nakamura
Kazuo
K
Imaizumi
Tsutomu
T
Yoshimura
Koichi
K
Yamakawa
Ryoji
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000737:chemistry*; D015817:Eye Infections / Q000378:metabolism; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000032:analysis*; D015843:Serpins / Q000032:analysis*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis; D014605:Uveitis / Q000378:metabolism*; D000099174:Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor
D005136:Eye Proteins; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D015843:Serpins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000099174:Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor