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Aqueous humor levels of cytokines are related to vitreous levels and progression of diabetic retinopathy in diabetic patients

  • Clinical Investigation
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Abstract

Background

Cytokine levels are elevated in the ocular fluid of diabetic patients. It is unclear whether aqueous humor levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) are related to the vitreous fluid levels of these substances and to the progression of diabetic retinopathy.

Methods

Aqueous humor and vitreous fluid samples were obtained during cataract and vitreous surgery from ten eyes of ten patients with diabetic macular edema and 26 eyes of 26 patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). The VEGF and IL-6 levels in aqueous humor, vitreous fluid, and plasma were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

VEGF and IL-6 levels in aqueous humor were significantly correlated with those in vitreous fluid (ρ=0.793 and ρ=0.737, respectively). VEGF levels in aqueous humor and vitreous fluid were significantly correlated with the corresponding IL-6 levels (ρ=0.631 and ρ=0.687, respectively). The aqueous and vitreous levels of VEGF were significantly correlated with the severity of diabetic retinopathy (ρ=0.659 and ρ=0.771, respectively). Aqueous and vitreous levels of IL-6 were also significantly correlated with the severity of diabetic retinopathy (ρ=0.742 and ρ=0.746, respectively). Aqueous and vitreous levels of both VEGF and IL-6 were significantly higher in the patients with active PDR than those in quiescent PDR.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that there is a significant relationship between VEGF and IL-6 levels in aqueous humor and in vitreous fluid. Measurement of the aqueous levels of VEGF and IL-6 may be useful to analyze the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy and to predict disease activity.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Drs Shigehiko Kitano, Erika Shimizu, Yuichiro Nakanishi, Koji Makita, and Kensuke Haruyama for their assistance in collecting the vitreous and plasma samples and in performing the ophthalmological examinations. We also thank Drs Yasuhiko Iwamoto and Naoko Iwasaki for their assistance in performing the internal medical examinations. Finally, we would like to thank Katsunori Shimada (Department of Biostatistics, STATZ Institute, Co., Ltd) for his assistance in conducting the statistical analysis. Supported by a Health Science Research Grant (#10060101 to Drs Funatsu, Hori, and Yamashita) from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (Tokyo, Japan).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Diabetes Center, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, 8-1 Kawada-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-8666, Japan

    Hideharu Funatsu & Shinko Nakamura

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, Yamagata University School of Medicine, Yamagata, Japan

    Hidetoshi Yamashita

  3. Department of Ophthalmology, Hiroshima University School of Medicine, Hiroshima, Japan

    Hidetaka Noma

  4. Department of Ophthalmology, Tokyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan

    Tatsuya Mimura

  5. Department of Ophthalmology, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, Tokyo, Japan

    Kumi Sakata & Sadao Hori

Authors
  1. Hideharu Funatsu
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  2. Hidetoshi Yamashita
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  3. Hidetaka Noma
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  4. Tatsuya Mimura
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  5. Shinko Nakamura
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  6. Kumi Sakata
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  7. Sadao Hori
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hideharu Funatsu.

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Funatsu, H., Yamashita, H., Noma, H. et al. Aqueous humor levels of cytokines are related to vitreous levels and progression of diabetic retinopathy in diabetic patients. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 243, 3–8 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-004-0950-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-004-0950-7

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