Increased levels of pigment epithelium-derived factor in aqueous humor of patients with uveitis
- Yumiko Yoshida1,
- Sho-ichi Yamagishi2,
- Takanori Matsui1,
- Kazuo Nakamura2,
- Tsutomu Imaizumi2,
- Koichi Yoshimura1,
- Ryoji Yamakawa1
- 1Department of Ophthalmology, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan
- 2Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardio-Vascular Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan
- Correspondence to: Dr S Yamagishi Department of Internal Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume 830-0011, Japan; shoichi{at}med.kurume-u.ac.jp
- Accepted 2 September 2006
- Published Online First 14 September 2006
Abstract
Aim: To evaluate whether aqueous humor levels of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) are increased in patients with uveitis
Methods: Aqueous humor levels of PEDF and tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα) were determined by ELISA in 34 uveitis samples and 9 cataract control samples.
Results: Aqueous humor PEDF and TNFα levels were significantly higher in patients with uveitis than in controls (mean (SD) 6.4 (0.8) v 1.3 (0.2) μg/ml and 14.7 (3.8) v 4.2 (0.4) pg/ml, respectively; p<0.01). A positive correlation between PEDF and TNFα was found in patients with uveitis (r = 0.40, p<0.01). Furthermore, PEDF levels in aqueous humor were increased in proportion to the disease activity of uveitis.
Conclusion: The results show that aqueous humor levels of PEDF are increased in patients with uveitis. Our observations suggest that aqueous humor levels of PEDF may be increased as a countersystem against inflammation in uveitis.
Footnotes
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Competing interests: None decalared.
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Published Online First 13 September 2006









