Open Access

ARTICLE

Chemokines in proliferative diabetic retinopathy and proliferative vitreoretinopathy

Ahmed M. Abu El-Asrar¹, Sofie Struyf², Dustan Kangave³, Karel Geboes⁴, Jo Van Damme²

1 Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Department of Ophthalmology, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Airport Road, P.O. Box 245, Riyadh 11411, Saudi Arabia Tel.: 966 1 477 5723; fax: 966 1 477 5724/477 5741
2 Rega Institute for Medical Research, Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, University of Leuven, Belgium
3 Research Center, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
4 Laboratory of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

* Corresponding Author: A.M. Abu El-Asrar,

European Cytokine Network 2006, 17(3), 155-165. https://doi.org/10.1684/ecn.2006.0033

Accepted 18 June 2006;

Abstract

Purpose. To determine levels of the chemokines CCL1/I-309, CCL2/MCP-1, CCL3/MIP-1α, CCL4/MIP-1β, CCL7/MCP-3, CCL8/MCP-2, CXCL5/ENA-78, CXCL6/GCP-2, CXCL10/IP-10, and CXCL11/I-TAC in the vitreous humor and serum, from patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with no PVR (RD), and to investigate the expression of MCP-1, CXCL12/SDF-1, and the chemokine receptor CXCR3 in epiretinal membranes. Methods. Paired vitreous humor and serum samples were obtained from patients undergoing vitrectomy for the treatment of RD (57 specimens), PVR (32 specimens), and PDR (88 specimens). The levels of chemokines were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Eighteen PDR and 5 PVR membranes were studied by immunohistochemi-cal techniques. Results. Of all the chemokines studied, only MCP-1 and IP-10 were detected in vitreous humor samples. MCP-1 levels in vitreous humor samples were significantly higher than in serum samples (p < 0.001). MCP-1 levels were significantly higher in vitreous humor samples from patients with PVR and PDR compared with RD (p = 0.0002). MCP-1 levels in vitreous humor samples from patients with active PDR were significantly higher than in inactive PDR cases (p = 0.0224). IP-10 levels in vitreous humor samples were significantly higher than in serum samples (p = 0.0035). IP-10 levels were significantly higher in vitreous humor samples from patients with PVR and PDR compared with RD (p = 0.0083). The incidence of IP-10 detection in vitreous humor samples was significantly higher in active PDR cases compared with inactive cases (p = 0.0214). There was a significant association between the incidence of IP-10 detection and increased levels of MCP-1 in vitreous humor samples from all patients, and patients with RD and PDR (p < 0.001 for all comparisons). MCP-1, and SDF-1 were localized in myofibroblasts in PVR and PDR membranes and in vascular endothelial cells in PDR membranes. CXCR3 was expressed by vascular endothelial cells in PDR membranes. Conclusion. MCP-1, IP-10 and SDF-1 may participate in pathogenesis of PVR and PDR. Myofibroblasts and vascular endothelial cells are the major cell types expressing MCP-1, SDF-1, and CXCR3 in epiretinal membranes.

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