Differences in retinal neovascular tissue and vitreous humour in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to evaluate the histopathology of neovascular tufts and vitreous samples collected from patients with diabetes.


METHODS
Vitreous samples and neovascular tufts were collected from patients with type 1 (n = 13) and (n = 17) type 2 diabetes with proliferative retinopathy, and from controls with a macular hole (n = 5). Neovessels were analysed using immunohistochemistry and vitreous samples with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The main outcome measure was to examine differences in the levels of growth factors in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes with proliferative retinopathy.


RESULTS
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A was most strongly present in the samples from patients with type 1 diabetes. In type 2 diabetes, VEGF-D was more abundantly present than in type 1 diabetes. Angiopoietin (ANG)-2 was also abundantly present. Macrophages and nuclear factor kappa B (NFkappaB) were found, indicating the presence of an inflammatory process in the neovascular tissues.


CONCLUSIONS
VEGF-A and ANG-2 are equally important in the neovascular process in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. VEGF-D is abundantly present in type 2 diabetes. In order to achieve better control of diabetic retinopathy, it might be beneficial to develop treatments that prevent the actions of ANG-2 and VEGF-D.
Kinnunen
K
K
Department of Ophthalmology, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.
Puustjärvi
T
T
Teräsvirta
M
M
Nurmenniemi
P
P
Heikura
T
T
Laidinen
S
S
Paavonen
T
T
Uusitalo
H
H
Ylä-Herttuala
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D042683:Angiopoietin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D042702:Angiopoietin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015861:Retinal Neovascularization / Q000378:metabolism*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism; D042643:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D / Q000378:metabolism; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000378:metabolism
C467630:ANGPT1 protein, human; D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents; D042683:Angiopoietin-1; D042702:Angiopoietin-2; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042643:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D