Article Text

Increased levels of pigment epithelium-derived factor in aqueous humor of patients with uveitis
  1. Yumiko Yoshida1,
  2. Sho-ichi Yamagishi2,
  3. Takanori Matsui1,
  4. Kazuo Nakamura2,
  5. Tsutomu Imaizumi2,
  6. Koichi Yoshimura1,
  7. Ryoji Yamakawa1
  1. 1Department of Ophthalmology, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan
  2. 2Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardio-Vascular Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan
  1. 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

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.

  • PEDF, pigment epithelium-derived factor
  • TNFα, tumour necrosis factor α

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Footnotes

  • Competing interests: None decalared.

  • Published Online First 13 September 2006