title: Interactive expressions of HtrA1 and VEGF in human vitreous humors and fetal RPE cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  High-temperature requirement factor A1 (HtrA1) is associated with exudative age-related macular degeneration, an angiogenic retinal disease related to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). This study investigates the interactive relationship between the expressions of HtrA1 and VEGF. METHODS; The vitreous humor levels of HtrA1, VEGF, and pigment epithelium-derived factor were determined in 55 unrelated Han Chinese patients who underwent ocular surgeries. Expressions of HTRA1 and VEGFA were studied interactively and under stress conditions in primary human fetal retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells to evaluate their regulations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Vitreous levels of HtrA1 were significantly associated with that of VEGF in vitreous samples from all patients (Pearson's correlation coefficient test, r = 0.650, P = 7.91 × 10(-8)) and from patients with retinal detachment (r = 0.835, P = 2.14 × 10(-7)). On stress induction, HTRA1 and VEGFA were upregulated in human fetal RPE cells treated by tunicamycin and dithiothreitol, but reduced after treatment by MG132. However, HtrA1 and VEGF did not regulate each other in their expressions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study revealed an association between HtrA1 and VEGF in human vitreous humors and RPE cells. They are both related to stress and inflammatory conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Tsz Kin
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Gary H F
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Yam
authors.forename: Wei Qi
authors.initials: WQ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Vincent Y W
authors.initials: VY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Haoyu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Li Jia
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Kwong Wai
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Choy
authors.forename: Zhenglin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Chi Pui
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Pang
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D004229:Dithiothreitol / Q000494:pharmacology; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D005838:Genotype; D000074289:High-Temperature Requirement A Serine Peptidase 1; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007976:Leupeptins / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D055213:Retinal Pigment Epithelium; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015843:Serpins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014415:Tunicamycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D015854:Up-Regulation; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000378:metabolism*; D000099174:Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D004229:Dithiothreitol; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D005136:Eye Proteins; D000074289:High-Temperature Requirement A Serine Peptidase 1; D007976:Leupeptins; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D015843:Serpins; D014415:Tunicamycin; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000099174:Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; C474012:HTRA1 protein, human; C072553:benzyloxycarbonylleucyl-leucyl-leucine aldehyde