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Increased soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) levels in neovascular age-related macular degeneration: a role for inflammation in the pathogenesis of the disease?

  • Retinal Disorders
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the plasma concentration of the soluble form of the urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor ((s)uPAR), an established biomarker of chronic inflammation, in patients affected by neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

Methods

Forty consecutive patients affected by age-related macular degeneration and 52 subjects with no history of the disease were included in this case–control study. The two groups of individuals considered for the study were matched for age, sex, and class of medications taken. Plasma concentration of suPAR was measured using a specific ELISA assay (suPARnostic, Birkeroed, Denmark).

Results

The case and control groups were similar for age, gender distribution, weight, height, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure, as well as for dyslipidemia and high blood pressure medication (P > 0.28). The plasma concentrations of suPAR were significantly increased in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration when compared to controls (6.19 ± 2.2 ng/ml, vs 5.21 ± 1.5, respectively, mean ± SD P = 0.01).

Conclusions

Patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration display increased plasma levels of suPAR, suggesting that chronic inflammation may be involved in the pathogenesis of the disease.

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Funding

This study was supported by a Grant from the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), Italian section (Dr Scotti).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ophthalmology Department, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy

    Fabrizio Scotti, Paolo Milani, Marco Setaccioli, Amedeo Massacesi & Fulvio Bergamini

  2. Complications of Diabetes Unit, Diabetes Research Institute, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy

    Silvia Maestroni & Gianpaolo Zerbini

  3. Unit of Cell Matrix Signalling, IFOM The FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy

    Nicolai Sidenius & Valentina De Lorenzi

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  1. Fabrizio Scotti
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Correspondence to Gianpaolo Zerbini.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Scotti, F., Milani, P., Setaccioli, M. et al. Increased soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) levels in neovascular age-related macular degeneration: a role for inflammation in the pathogenesis of the disease?. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 257, 899–903 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-018-04230-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-018-04230-w

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