Transforming growth factor-beta levels in human aqueous humor of glaucomatous, diabetic and uveitic eyes.
OBJECTIVE
Transforming growth factor-beta2 is known to be present at elevated levels in the aqueous humor of patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and diabetes but not in uveitis-related secondary glaucoma. We investigated total TGF-beta2 levels and levels of the active form of TGF-beta2 in the aqueous humor of eyes with different types of glaucoma.


METHODS
The concentration of the total and active form of TGF-beta2 was measured in 63 patients with primary open angle glaucoma, neovascular glaucoma complicated with diabetes (NVG), and secondary open angle glaucoma complicated with uveitis (SOAG) using a double antibody 'sandwich-indirect' ELISA method.


RESULTS
The levels of total TGF-beta2 in the aqueous samples of POAG, NVG, and SOAG were elevated. The levels of active TGF-beta2 in the aqueous samples of POAG, and NVG were also elevated, whereas the level of active TGF-beta2 was within the normal range in the aqueous samples of SOAG.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the level of TGF-beta2 may play a role in the pathology of various types of glaucoma.
Min
Seong Hee
SH
Department of Ophthalmology, Kim's Eye Hospital, Myung-Gok Eye Research Institute, Konyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Lee
Tong-Il
TI
Chung
Yun Seok
YS
Kim
Hwang Ki
HK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015812:Glaucoma, Angle-Closure / Q000378:metabolism*; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D014605:Uveitis / Q000378:metabolism*
D015415:Biomarkers; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta