title: [Increased expression of endothelin-1-- a novel diagnostic marker for early AMD detection?].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The relationship between ischemic vascular disease and age-related macular degeneration may indicate the role of vascular injury as the primary insult causing functional deficits in age-related macular degeneration. The vasoactive factors produced by endothelial cells include endothelin-1 (ET-1), which is one of the most potent vasoconstricting peptides. In this study we sought to explore the potential role of endothelial dysfunction in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration by measuring the concentration of ET-1 in peripheral blood of individuals diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration and evaluating its intracellular expression in peripheral blood cells, on mRNA level.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peripheral blood samples from 31 patients with diagnosed dry age-related macular degeneration and 46 patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration were collected. Forty six age- and sex-matched volunteers without age-related macular degeneration were enrolled as a control group. ET-1 plasma levels were analyzed by ELISA and intracellular expression of ET-1 in peripheral blood cells was studied by using qRT-PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression of intracellular ET-1 was significantly elevated in peripheral blood cells of both dry and wet age-related macular degeneration patients compared with the control subjects. Immunofluorescence staining revealed that ET-1 was specifically expressed in the circulating endothelial cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We assume that damaged endothelial cells may release a variety of vasoconstricting molecules, including ET-1, leading to derangement between the endothelium-derived relaxing and contracting factors. Local retinal ischemia consequently develops which may promote the development of retinal degeneration in patients with age-related macular degeneration,
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Machalińska
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mozolewska-Piotrowska
authors.forename: Edyta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Paczkowska
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lubiniski
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019332:Endothelin-1