Positive correlation of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) and total anti-oxidant capacity in aqueous humor of patients with uveitis and proliferative diabetic retinopathy
- Yumiko Yoshida (shoichi{at}med.kurume-u.ac.jp),
- Sho-ichi Yamagishi (shoichi{at}med.kurume-u.ac.jp),
- Takanori Matsui (shoichi{at}med.kurume-u.ac.jp),
- Kazuo Nakamura (shoichi{at}med.kurume-u.ac.jp),
- Tsutomu Imaizumi (shoichi{at}med.kurume-u.ac.jp),
- Koichi Yoshimura (shoichi{at}med.kurume-u.ac.jp),
- Ryoji Yamakawa (shoichi{at}med.kurume-u.ac.jp)
- Kurume University, Japan
- Kurume University, Japan
- Kurume University, Japan
- Kurume University, Japan
- Kurume University, Japan
- Kurume University, Japan
- Kurume University, Japan
- Published Online First 27 March 2007
Abstract
Background/aims: There are several animal studies to suggest that pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) may exert beneficial effects on diabetic retinopathy and uveitis by acting as an endogenous anti-oxidant. However, the interrelationship between PEDF and total anti-oxidant capacity in the human eye remains to be elucidated. In this study, we determined PEDF and total anti-oxidant levels in aqueous humor of patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and uveitis, and investigated the relationship between these two markers.
Methods: Aqueous humor levels of PEDF and total anti-oxidant capacity were determined by an ELISA system in 34 uveitis and 9 PDR samples.
Results: Aqueous humor levels of PEDF and total anti-oxidant capacity were significantly lower in PDR patients than those in uveitis patients (1.8±0.2 μg/ml vs 6.4±0.8 μg/ml and 0.17±0.03 mmol/l vs 0.85±0.05 mmol/l, respectively, P<.01). A positive correlation between PEDF and total anti-oxidant capacity was found in patients with PDR and uveitis (r=.33, P<.05).
Conclusion: This study demonstrated that PEDF levels were associated with total anti-oxidant capacity in aqueous humor levels in humans. Our present observations suggest that substitution of PEDF may be a therapeutic target for oxidative stress-involved eye diseases, especially PDR.
