title: Plasma E-selectin levels can play a role in the development of diabetic retinopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Diabetic retinopathy is one of the leading causes of blindness. There are several risk factors, such as the duration of diabetes or glycemic control of the patient; however, several biochemical factors also alter the process. Our aim was to investigate the role of soluble E-selectin in the formation of diabetic retinopathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-seven patients (37 female and 20 male, aged 61.71 ± 12.31 years) and 14 healthy control subjects (ten female and four male, aged 63.06 ± 10.46 years) were enrolled in the study. We measured the soluble E-selectin level in the plasma of patients by ELISA. All patients underwent careful ophthalmological examination, including ophthalmoscopy and color fundus photography, while diabetic retinopathy grading was performed in line with the 2012 classification of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The soluble E-selectin level was significantly higher in patients with diabetes compared to controls (32.95 ng/ml vs. 26.55 ng/ml, p = 0.03). Dividing patients into groups by the presence of retinopathy, the E-selectin level was also significantly higher in the retinopathy group (p < 0.05). When we examined diabetic patients by the severity of retinopathy (groups A, B, and C, by the guidelines of the AAO), however, we did not find any significant difference in soluble E-selectin levels, although it tended to be higher in group B.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An elevated E-selectin level can play a role in the development of diabetic retinopathy, but it does not seem to alter disease severity. However, glycemic control and the reduction of cardiovascular risk factors may also alter the level of E-selectin that might play a role in the prevention of diabetic retinopathy.
authors.affiliation: Medical Centre, Hungarian Defence Forces, 1134, Budapest, Róbert Károly krt. 44, Hungary. kaszam77@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Márta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kasza
authors.affiliation: Jósa András Hospital, Nyíregyháza, Hungary.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meleg
authors.affiliation: Kenézy Gyula Hospital, Debrecen, Hungary.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vardai
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nagy
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Szalai
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Damjanovich
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Csutak
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ujhelyi
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nagy
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019040:E-Selectin; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin
keywords: Diabetes mellitus; Diabetic retinopathy; Soluble E-selectin