Different expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and pigment epithelium-derived factor between diabetic and non-diabetic epiretinal membranes.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether there is a difference in protein levels of expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and transforming growth factor beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)) between diabetic and non-diabetic epiretinal membranes (ERMs).


METHODS
ERMs and vitreous were surgically removed from the eyes of 8 patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy and from 6 patients with proliferative vitreoretinopathy. Concentrations of VEGF, PEDF, PDGF and TGF-beta(1) were investigated by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.


RESULTS
The concentrations of VEGF were higher in ERMs from patients with diabetes (9.2 +/- 8.0 pg/microg protein) compared to those without diabetes (1.2 +/- 3.0 pg/microg protein; p = 0.026), while the concentrations of PEDF were higher in ERMs from patients without diabetes (7.5 +/- 1.5 ng/microg protein) compared to those with diabetes (3.5 +/- 1.5 ng/microg protein; p = 0.002). In addition, the VEGF-to-PEDF ratio was higher in diabetic ERMs (2.80 +/- 1.83) than in non-diabetic ones (0.17 +/- 0.09; p = 0.019). However, the concentrations of PDGF and TGF-beta(1) in membranes were not different between patients with diabetes and those without diabetes.


CONCLUSIONS
This study found the difference in protein levels of expression of VEGF and PEDF between diabetic and non-diabetic ERMs. These results suggest that a disturbance in the balance between angiogenic and anti-angiogenic factors may play an important role in angiogenesis in diabetic ERMs.
Nam
Dong Heun
DH
Department of Ophthalmology, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, Korea.
Oh
Jaeryung
J
Roh
Joon Ho
JH
Huh
Kuhl
K
D000368:Aged; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D019773:Epiretinal Membrane / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D015843:Serpins / Q000378:metabolism*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*; D018630:Vitreoretinopathy, Proliferative / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000099174:Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor
D005136:Eye Proteins; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D015843:Serpins; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000099174:Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor; C467484:VEGFA protein, human