bromochloroacetic-acid and Retinal-Neovascularization

The purpose of this study was to first determine whether hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1 α) was detectable in diabetic preretinal membranes and to compare the presence of HIF-1α in fibrovascular proliferative diabetic retinopathy membranes with nondiabetic, idiopathic, epiretinal membranes.. Twelve patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy membranes requiring pars plana vitrectomy and nine nondiabetic patients with idiopathic epiretinal membranes requiring pars plana vitrectomy underwent excision of these membranes. Immunohisto-chemical staining for the presence of HIF-1α was performed on the excised membranes. The degree of staining for HIF-1α (1+, 2+, and 3+ scale) and the cellular location of staining were determined for each specimen. Institutional Review Board approval and informed consent were obtained for all patients.. Eleven of 12 (92%) diabetic preretinal membranes were positive for HIF-1α, and most had intense (2+ to 3+) cytoplasmic staining with occasional focal nuclear positivity. Five of 9 (55%) nondiabetic epiretinal membranes were positive for HIF-1α with significantly weaker cytoplasmic staining (1+ to 2+) with occasional focal punctuate nuclear staining.. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α is found more often and more intensely in diabetic preretinal membranes compared with nondiabetic idiopathic epiretinal membranes.

Topics: Actins; Adult; Aged; Animals; Diabetic Retinopathy; Epiretinal Membrane; Female; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; Humans; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; Keratins; Male; Membranes; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Middle Aged; Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; Rabbits; Retinal Neovascularization; Staining and Labeling; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; Vitrectomy

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) has been recently described as an endogenous inhibitor of the synthesis and angiogenic action of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Given VEGF's key role in promoting neovascularization in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), this study was designed to evaluate the possibility that ANP could be involved in the neovascular and fibrotic complications of PDR.. We determined ANP by radioimmunoassay in plasma and vitreous humor samples collected from diabetic patients with and without PDR and from non-diabetic subjects. ANP was also immunohistochemically localized in the epiretinal membranes of patients with PDR.. Vitreous ANP concentrations were significantly higher in patients with active PDR compared to patients with quiescent PDR, diabetes without PDR or controls <0.05. Significant differences were also observed between vitreous ANP levels in diabetic patients without PDR and control subjects. There was no significant correlation between serum and vitreous ANP levels in any of the patient groups. ANP was detected in the fibrovascular epiretinal tissue of patients with PDR.. Diabetic patients with active neovascularization have significantly higher levels of ANP in the vitreous humor than those without active PDR. Diabetic patients without PDR were also found to have significantly higher vitreous ANP levels than non-diabetic patients. Since plasma and vitreous ANP concentrations were found to be unrelated, we suggest intraocular ANP synthesis and/or an increase in the release of ANP into the vitreous, as opposed to diffusion from the blood, as the main factors contributing to the high vitreous ANP levels observed in diabetic patients. In the fibrovascular epiretinal tissue of these patients, ANP was found to be localized in vascular, glial, fibroblast-like and retinal pigment epithelium cells. Our findings suggest a role for ANP in PDR.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Atrial Natriuretic Factor; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Diabetic Retinopathy; Epiretinal Membrane; Female; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Keratins; Male; Middle Aged; Radioimmunoassay; Retinal Neovascularization; Vitrectomy; Vitreous Body

To determine the sequence of cellular changes associated with a new rabbit model of subretinal neovascularization (SRN) induced by subretinal injection of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-impregnated microspheres.. bFGF-impregnated gelatin microspheres, prepared by forming a polyion complex between gelatin and bFGF, were subretinally implanted into rabbit eyes. The eyes were studied by immunochemistry at 3 days to 8 weeks after implantation. Antibodies to CD4, CD8, cytokeratin, CD31, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and RAM11 were used.. Cytokeratin-positive retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells appeared on day 3 and continued to increase in number in the subretinal space throughout the growth of the SRN membrane, becoming the predominant cell type. Macrophages (RAM11-positive) appeared early, but most disappeared within 7 days. GFAP-positive Müller cells were evident early in the retina but migrated into the subretinal space after 7 days; the gliotic adhesion they formed between the retina and the SRN membrane was prominent at 8 weeks. CD31-positive endothelial cells were first evident at 14 days and formed neovascular channels that were still present for up to 8 weeks. CD4- and CD8-positive lymphocytes appeared in the early stages but were few in number.. SRN membranes are primarily composed of RPE cells and vascular endothelial cells. The membrane adheres to the retina by a gliotic band. The cellular components involved in the membrane of this model resemble those found in SRN membranes removed from patients with age-related macular degeneration.

Topics: Animals; CD4 Antigens; CD8 Antigens; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Carriers; Extracellular Space; Female; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; Foreign-Body Reaction; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Keratins; Macrophages; Male; Microspheres; Pigment Epithelium of Eye; Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; Rabbits; Retinal Neovascularization

Topics: Animals; Blood Platelets; Cell Membrane; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Administration Schedule; Free Radical Scavengers; Fundus Oculi; Ginkgo biloba; Humans; Injections; Keratins; Plant Extracts; Rabbits; Retinal Detachment; Retinal Neovascularization; Vitreous Body

During vitreoretinal surgery, 23 epiretinal membranes from eyes treated with silicone oil were removed. They were examined by immunohistochemical methods and compared with 15 membranes from eyes affected by proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) and not treated with silicone oil and with 4 membranes from eyes with intermediate uveitis. PVR membranes from eyes treated with silicone oil showed a high level of macrophages and a strong expression of HLA-DR. Additionally, lymphocytes were found in PVR membranes, a finding that has not been described before. Similar changes were seen in proliferations removed from eyes affected by uveitis, but these membranes were found to have smaller amounts of extracellular substance. In contrast to this, most cells in the PVR membranes from eyes not treated with silicone oil react with vimentin, GFAP and cytokeratin. In none of these membranes were we able to find T-lymphocytes. It is not possible to say whether or not the different findings are attributable ot the silicone oil.

Topics: Extracellular Matrix; Follow-Up Studies; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; HLA-DR Antigens; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Keratins; Macrophages; Pigment Epithelium of Eye; Retina; Retinal Detachment; Retinal Neovascularization; Silicone Oils; T-Lymphocytes; Uveitis; Vimentin; Vitrectomy