A comparison of hypoxia-inducible factor-α in surgically excised neovascular membranes of patients with diabetes compared with idiopathic epiretinal membranes in nondiabetic patients.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to first determine whether hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1 α) was detectable in diabetic preretinal membranes and to compare the presence of HIF-1α in fibrovascular proliferative diabetic retinopathy membranes with nondiabetic, idiopathic, epiretinal membranes.


METHODS
Twelve patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy membranes requiring pars plana vitrectomy and nine nondiabetic patients with idiopathic epiretinal membranes requiring pars plana vitrectomy underwent excision of these membranes. Immunohisto-chemical staining for the presence of HIF-1α was performed on the excised membranes. The degree of staining for HIF-1α (1+, 2+, and 3+ scale) and the cellular location of staining were determined for each specimen. Institutional Review Board approval and informed consent were obtained for all patients.


RESULTS
Eleven of 12 (92%) diabetic preretinal membranes were positive for HIF-1α, and most had intense (2+ to 3+) cytoplasmic staining with occasional focal nuclear positivity. Five of 9 (55%) nondiabetic epiretinal membranes were positive for HIF-1α with significantly weaker cytoplasmic staining (1+ to 2+) with occasional focal punctuate nuclear staining.


CONCLUSIONS
Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α is found more often and more intensely in diabetic preretinal membranes compared with nondiabetic idiopathic epiretinal membranes.
Lim
Jennifer I
JI
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA. jennylim@uic.edu
Spee
Christine
C
Hinton
David R
DR
D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D019773:Epiretinal Membrane / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism*; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008566:Membranes / Q000378:metabolism; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008875:Middle Aged; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits; D015861:Retinal Neovascularization / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism; D014821:Vitrectomy
C541116:ACTA2 protein, human; D000199:Actins; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; C497442:HIF1A protein, human; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D007633:Keratins
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