Increased levels of monokine induced by interferon-gamma (Mig) in the vitreous of patients with diabetic retinopathy.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the intravitreous concentration of monokine induced by interferon-gamma (Mig) in patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR) and the relation between Mig and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).


METHODS
Vitreous samples were obtained at the time of vitrectomy from 41 eyes of 38 DR patients (30 with active DR and 11 with inactive DR) and from 15 eyes of 15 non-diabetic patients who had macular disease (control subjects). Human Mig and VEGF were quantified using a FACS Caliber flow cytometer.


RESULTS
The vitreous concentration of Mig was increased significantly in patients with both active and inactive DR [148.0 (31.6-997.2; median range) and 82.3 (25.7-347.7) pg/ml, respectively] compared with control subjects [21.0 (5.2-74.3) pg/ml; P < 0.0001 and P < 0.001, respectively]. In DR patients, a significant (P < 0.01) correlation was observed between vitreous concentrations of Mig and VEGF.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that Mig may play an important role in the pathogenesis of DR and works in consort with VEGF in the progression of pathological angiogenesis in DR.
Wakabayashi
Y
Y
Department of Ophthalmology, Hachiouji Medical Center of Tokyo Medical University and Department of Ophthalmology, Tokyo Medical University Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Usui
Y
Y
Okunuki
Y
Y
Takeuchi
M
M
Kezuka
T
T
Iwasaki
T
T
Goto
H
H
D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000209:etiology*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000209:etiology*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015846:Monokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000378:metabolism*
D015846:Monokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D007371:Interferon-gamma