title: SPARC is a major secretory gene expressed and involved in the development of proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Neovascularization is an important event in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), where various secretory proteins including multiple growth factors are considered to be involved in this process. We searched for secretory proteins expressed in a surgical specimen obtained from the eyes of patients with PDR.
  
  
  METHODS
  We developed the oligo-cap signal sequence trap (SST) strategy which enables us to screen for secretory or membrane proteins from a minimal starting material. Using this method, we were able to screen a cDNA library constructed from a surgical specimen obtained from the eyes of the patients with PDR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Majority of the cloned cDNAs turned out to encode secreted protein acidic and rich in cystein (SPARC), strongly suggesting that SPARC is highly expressed in PDR. Analysis of vitreous fluid from various patients has shown that the concentration of SPARC protein is increased in patients with PDR. Furthermore, subretinal injection of recombinant SPARC adenovirus induced PDR-like changes in the rat eye.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results strongly suggested that SPARC is involved in the development of diabetic retinopathy (DR).
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine (Endocrinology and Metabolism), Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuhisa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Fumiki
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.forename: Tomotaka
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yokoo
authors.forename: Kaoruko Tada
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Iida
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shimano
authors.forename: Tetsuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oshika
authors.forename: Nobuhiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Toyoshima
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D015723:Gene Library; D006801:Humans; D015676:Osteonectin / Q000032:analysis*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D005136:Eye Proteins; D015676:Osteonectin