title: Gli1 Expression in Human Epiretinal Membranes.
abstract: We evaluate the expression of Gli1 in human epiretinal membranes (ERM) and correlate this with clinical data.
  
  
  
  We prospectively recruited patients with ERM. A total of 33 human ERM specimens were immunolabeled with anti-Gli1 antibody and the number of total cells/hyperfield (HF), Gli1(+) cells/HF, and the percentage of Gli1(+) cells/total cells were calculated. We evaluated the interrelationship of cellular properties and clinical findings, such as presence of diabetic retinopathy (DR), retinal breaks, intraocular inflammation, central foveal thickness, maximal retinal thickness, retinal contraction, lamellar holes, pseudoholes, the attenuation or absence of an inner segment/outer segment (IS/OS) junction/external limiting membrane (ELM), cystic changes, and paravascular inner retinal defects.
  
  
  
  Among 33 specimens, 25 specimens (75.8%) showed nuclear Gli1 expression. The mean Gli1(+) cells/total cells was 54.0 ± 36.7% (range, 0%-92.8%). There was significantly higher expression of Gli1(+) cells in ERM specimens from patients with DR (P = 0.014), and lower expression from patients with retinal breaks (P = 0.022). Epiretinal membrane specimens from patients with alteration of IS/OS junction/ELM or cystic changes on OCT showed higher percentage of Gli1(+) cells/total cells.
  
  
  
  Gli1 expression was detected in most ERM specimens. Patients who had DR or OCT findings indicating chronic retinal insults showed higher Gli1 expression. Gli1 may have a role in the pathogenesis of ERM after chronic retinal insults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sohee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jiwon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Won Ki
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019773:Epiretinal Membrane / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D055211:Retinal Photoreceptor Cell Inner Segment / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D055214:Retinal Photoreceptor Cell Outer Segment / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014821:Vitrectomy; D000071676:Zinc Finger Protein GLI1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C400551:GLI1 protein, human; D000071676:Zinc Finger Protein GLI1; D012313:RNA