title: Increased Vitreous Chemerin Levels Are Associated with Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate chemerin in the vitreous bodies of patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and determine the correlation between the levels of vitreous chemerin and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 17 patients suffering from PDR and vitreous hemorrhage (VH) (group A), 21 patients with PDR and tractional retinal detachment (TRD) (group B) and 25 patients with idiopathic macular holes or preretinal membranes (control group). All vitreous samples were obtained through pars plana vitrectomy. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot analysis were performed to evaluate the levels of vitreous chemerin and VEGF.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Vitreous concentrations of chemerin were significantly higher in PDR patients with VH and TRD than those in the controls [4.82 ng/ml (3.91-6.13) vs. 5.03 ng/ml (4.01-6.15) vs. 2.53 ng/ml (1.53-5.66), p = 0.025]. The ratio of vitreous chemerin to plasma chemerin concentration significantly differed between groups A and B and the control group [4.93% (4.69-5.34) vs. 4.98% (4.63-5.19) vs. 2.58% (1.78-4.58), p < 0.001]. Western blot results indicated that the levels of vitreous chemerin protein in PDR patients significantly increased compared with those in the controls. Spearman correlation analysis further showed that vitreous chemerin levels in patients with PDR were positively correlated with vitreous VEGF levels (r = -0.542, p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased vitreous chemerin levels are associated with the development of PDR.
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Clinical College of Ophthalmology, Tianjin, PR China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wen-Chao
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Jing-Na
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D018925:Chemokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014821:Vitrectomy; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018925:Chemokines; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C478630:RARRES2 protein, human