Erythropoetin receptor expression in the human diabetic retina.
BACKGROUND
Recent evidence suggests erythropoietin (EPO) and the erythropoietin receptor (EPOR) may play a direct role in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy. Better characterization of the EPO-EPOR signaling system in the ischemic retina may offer a new therapeutic modality for ischemic ophthalmic diseases. This study was performed to identify EPOR mRNA expression in the human diabetic eye.


RESULTS
EPOR antisense RNA probes were validated on human pancreas tissue. In the normal eye, EPOR was expressed in the retinal ganglion cell layer. Minimal expression was observed in the inner and outer nuclear layer. Under conditions of diabetic retinopathy, EPOR expression shifted to photoreceptor cells. Increased expression was also observed in the peripheral retina.


CONCLUSIONS
EPOR expression may be a biomarker or contribute to disease mechanisms in diabetic retinopathy.
Shah
Shaival S
SS
Vitreoretinal Service, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, 200 Hawkins Drive, USA. shaivalss@gmail.com
Tsang
Stephen H
SH
Mahajan
Vinit B
VB