| Autor: |
Low SWY; Ocular Immunology and Angiogenesis Lab, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA., Vaidya T; GROW Research Laboratory, Narayana Nethralaya, Bangalore 560099, India., Gadde SGK; Vitreo-Retina Services, Narayana Nethralaya, Bangalore 560010, India., Mochi TB; Vitreo-Retina Services, Narayana Nethralaya, Bangalore 560010, India., Kumar D; Ocular Immunology and Angiogenesis Lab, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA., Kassem IS; Ocular Immunology and Angiogenesis Lab, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.; Pediatric Ophthalmology, Eye Institute, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA., Costakos DM; Ocular Immunology and Angiogenesis Lab, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.; Pediatric Ophthalmology, Eye Institute, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA., Ahmad B; Ocular Immunology and Angiogenesis Lab, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.; Vitreoretinal Surgery, Eye Institute, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA., Sethu S; GROW Research Laboratory, Narayana Nethralaya, Bangalore 560099, India., Ghosh A; GROW Research Laboratory, Narayana Nethralaya, Bangalore 560099, India., Chaurasia SS; Ocular Immunology and Angiogenesis Lab, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA. |
| Abstrakt: |
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a microvascular complication of diabetes in the retina. Chronic hyperglycemia damages retinal microvasculature embedded into the extracellular matrix (ECM), causing fluid leakage and ischemic retinal neovascularization. Current treatment strategies include intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or steroidal injections, laser photocoagulation, or vitrectomy in severe cases. However, treatment may require multiple modalities or repeat treatments due to variable response. Though DR management has achieved great success, improved, long-lasting, and predictable treatments are needed, including new biomarkers and therapeutic approaches. Small-leucine rich proteoglycans, such as decorin, constitute an integral component of retinal endothelial ECM. Therefore, any damage to microvasculature can trigger its antifibrotic and antiangiogenic response against retinal vascular pathologies, including DR. We conducted a cross-sectional study to examine the association between aqueous humor (AH) decorin levels, if any, and severity of DR. A total of 82 subjects (26 control, 56 DR) were recruited. AH was collected and decorin concentrations were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Decorin was significantly increased in the AH of DR subjects compared to controls ( p = 0.0034). AH decorin levels were increased in severe DR groups in ETDRS and Gloucestershire classifications. Decorin concentrations also displayed a significant association with visual acuity (LogMAR) measurements. In conclusion, aqueous humor decorin concentrations were found elevated in DR subjects, possibly due to a compensatory response to the retinal microvascular changes during hyperglycemia. |
