Complications of proliferative diabetic retinopathy have become the major indications of vitrectomy. The surgery, however, is not basically a causative therapy. The visual function after operation depends on the degree of retinal ischemia and damage induced. The surgery itself has a potential for severe complications. Therefore it is important to better understand the pathology and to master surgical strategy and techniques in order to improve surgical outcomes and reduce the surgical complications. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,2007,231-233)
Objective To observe the expression of N-cadherin in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic Sprague-Dawley (SD) ratsprime;retinae. Methods Celiac injection with 65 mg/kg STZ was performed on 20 rats to set up the diabetic model, and celiac injection with the same volume citrate buffer was performed on other 20 SD rats as the control. Vascular permeability was detected by Evans blue method. The expression of N-cadherin in both normal and STZ-induced diabetic ratsprime;retinae and trypsinase-digested retinal microvessels were detected by immunohistochemistry method and Western blotting analysis. Results Retinal vascular permeability increased 68%, 91% and 125% 4, 8, and 12 weeks, respectively, after diabetic models was induced (Plt;0.005). In the control group, the expression of N-cadherin was detected in the outer and inner plexiform layer, inner nuclear layer,ganglion cell layer,internal limiting membrane and between retinal endothelial cells and pericytes. However, the expression of N-cadherin significantly decreased in STZ-induced diabetic rats retinae at the 12th week. The results of Western blotting analysis showed that the expression of N-cadherin obviously decreased as the diabetic retinopathy developed. Conclusion The decrease of expression of Ncadherin in the retinae of STZ-induced diabetic rats suggests that N-cadherin may participate in the development of diabetic retinopathy at the early stage. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,2007,23:269-272)
Objective To investigate the molecular mechanism of apoptosis in cultured human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. Methods The growth media of confluency human RPE cells were replaced with a daunoblastinacontaining one at a dose of 180mu;g/L,and the cells were incubated for 12 hr at 37℃.After incubation with the drug,the medium was withdrawn,fresh medium was added and incubation was carried out for an additional 24 hr.Apoptosis was monitored by light microscopy,enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated biotin-dUTP nick-end labelling(TUNEL)staining.The expression of bax and bcl-2 were evaluated by immuncoytochemical staining with anti-human bcl-2 and bax antibodies. Results After the RPE cells treated with daunoblastina,shrinkage of cytoplasm and nucleus was identified.The ratio of nucleus to cytoplasm was increased.TUNEL staining showed that many cells were positive staining.The amount of apoptotic cells was directly proportional to the drug dose.The integral optical desity values for expression of bax inereased by 22.0%(Plt;0.05), and that of bcl-2 did not change significantly(Pgt;0.05). Conclusions During human RPE cell apoptosis induced by daunoblastina,overexpression of bax or low bcl-2/bax ratio were demonstrated.The results suggest that bax and bcl-2 gene expression could play a role in regulation of RPE cell apoptosis. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 1999, 15: 153-156)
Purpose To study the refractive state of silicone oil tamponade eyes. Methods To calculate the theoretical refractive state of eyes with silicone oil based on clinical visual optics and to perform retinoscopy on 48 silicone oil filled eyes with pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) and 45 ones with PPV plus lens ectomy with retinal reposition, and then study theoretical and experimental differences of diopter in silicone oil filled eyes. Results Postoperative diopter of the former increases (+6.26plusmn;1.20)D than preoperative diopter, while that of the latter is (+11.40plusmn;2.22)D. Conclusion Hyperopic changes are found in silicone oil tamponade eyes, and the experimental values are lower than the theoretical ones. This may be helpful in predicting the change of diopter of silicone oil tamponade eyes. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2001,17:102-104)
Objective To observe whether apoptosis was involved in cells of aspiration fluid from vitrectomy for proliferative vitreoretinopathy(PVR),and whether there was an association with expression of Fas antigen(Fas )and Fas ligand (FasL). Methods Cytocentrifuge slides of 11 fresh vitreous specimens of PVR were prepared to be stained by TUNEL met hod for detection of apoptosis and by immunohistochemical technique for detection of Fas,FasL,and cytokeratin (CK),a cell-type specific antigen. Results Fas and FasL were expressed in normal human retina.Fas,FasL,CK,and apoptosis were found in all preparations.TUNEL-positive cells were 20.53% in total cells.70.35%,51.58%,and 82.97% of cells highly expressed Fas,FasL,and CK,respectively.The linear correlation coefficient of Fas and apoptosis was 0.99(Plt;0.001). Conclusion Vitrectomy specimens of PVR showed expression of Fas,FasL,and apoptosis.Prominent Fas and FasL expressions may be associated with apoptosis of proliferating retinal pigment epithelial cells in the vitreous of PVR. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,1999,15:78-80)
Objective To detect the effects of cytokines on the expression of early growth response gene-1 (Egr-1) in cultured human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. Methods Immunofluorescence staining, Western blotting and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used to detect and quantitatively analyze the expression of Egr-1 protein and mRNA in cultured human RPE cells which were exposed to stimulants, including 20 mu;g/ml lipopolysaccharide (LPS), 40 ng/ml tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha;, 10 U/ml interferon (IFN)gamma;, 30% supernatant of monocyte/macrophage strain (THP1 cells) and the vitreous humor from healthy human eyeballs, for 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 60 minutes, respectively. Results The RPE cells stimulated for 0 minute revealed faint green fluorescence of Egr-1 in the cytoplasm. With exposure to the stimulants, the expressionof Egr-1 increased obviously and b green fluorescence was found in cytoplasm in some nuclei of RPE cells. Compared with the untreated RPE cells, after stimulated by 20 mu;g/ml LPS, 40 ng/ml TNFalpha;, 10 U/ml IFNgamma;, 30% supernatant of THP-1 cells and the vitreous humor, the approximate ultimate amplitudes of Egr-1 mRNA enhanced 1.9, 1.3, 14, 1.2, and 1.4 times, respectively; the greatest amplitudes of Egr-1 protein increased 3.4, 1.2, 1.7, 32, and 1.3 times, respectively. Conclusion LPS, TNF-alpha;, IFN-gamma;, supernatant of THP-1 cells and the vitreous humor can upregulate the expression of Egr-1 mRNA and protein in cultured human RPE cells, and induce its nuclear transposition, which suggests the activation of Egr-1.
Purpose To investigate the expression of intercellular adhesion molecules ICAM-1 and Mac-1,in epiretinal membanes (ERM) of eyes wi th proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). Methods Twenty epiretinal membranes were obtained from eyes undergone vitrectomy for retinal detachment complicated with PVR and observed by immunohistochemical examination. Results Expressions of ICMA-1 and Mac-1 were observed in 18 and 15 membranes respectively.Expression of both adhesion molecules in 12 membranes. Conclusion The findings indicate that adhesion molecules might be involved in the development of PVR. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,2000,16:71-138)
Objective To investigate the effect of hypericin on the activity of protein kinase C (PKC) in cultured human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells in vitro.Methods RPE cells were cultured in standard medium with 10% serum concentrations containing 0.5 to 5.0 μmol/L hypericin with or without preincubation of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). The activities of cytosolic PKC (c-PKC) and membranous PKC (m-PKC) were assayed by PKC kit. Results The original activities of c-PKC and m-PKC of RPE cells were (35.34±4.10) pmol·min-1·mg-1and (62.52±8.80) pmol·min-1·mg-1.The activity of c-PKC in RPE cells with PMA preincubation decreased rapidly in 5 minutes, with a subsequent slow decrease after 20 minutes and a decrease to 18% of the activity of c-PKC in RPE cells without PMA preinubation after 60 minutes. While the activity of m-PKC in RPE cells with PMA preincubation increased gradually after 5 minutes and reduced after reached the peak at 40 minutes, and then returned to baseline after 60 minutes, eventually decreased below 30% of the control group. When RPE cells were cultured with PMA for 48 hours, the activities of c-PKC and m-PKC were hardly detectable, while RPE cells were cultured with both PMA and hypericin, hypericin could counteract most of down-regulation by PMA. Conclusion Hypericin may inhibit the translocation of PKC in RPE cells,change the activity of PKC, promote the apoptosis of RPE cells likely,and then prevent proliferative vitreoretinopathy. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,2003,19:55-58)
Objective To investigate the effects of transformin growth factor-beta (TGF-beta;) and interferon-gamma(IFN-gamma;)on collagen synthesis in human retinal pigment epithelial cells(RPE). Methods TGF-beta;(0.01~10 ng/ml),recombinant IFN-gamma;(100~10000 U/ml)or a combination of two were added to cultures of RPE and collagen synthesis of the cells were measured by3 H-proline incorporation assay,indirect immunofluorescence staining and dot-blot hybridization. Results TGF-beta; at 10 ng/ml increased cell uptake of 3 H-proline to 130.87% of controls.It intensified Type IV,I and Ⅲ collagen fluorescent staining as well as mRNA expression.IFN-gamma; at 10000 U/ml caused 54.72% inhibition of 3 H-proline uptake by RPE,and decreased TypeⅣ collagen fluorescent staining as well as mRNA expression of Type Ⅳ,I and Ⅲ collagens. Conclusion TGF-beta; and IFN-gamma; stimulated and inhibited collagen synthesis of human RPE,respectively.The combination of two had antagonistic effects.IFN-gamma; can be used for inhibition of collagen synthesis of RPE. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 1999, 15: 245-248)
Objective To investigate the effect of HGF on proliferation and migration in cultured human RPE cells. Methods Human RPE cells cultured in serum-free medium were treated with HGF(1,2,10,50,100 mu;g/L), and MT T assay was used to detect the growth of the cells; an in vitro wound healing model was used to count the number of cells that had entered the denudate area in RPE mig ration treated with HGF (1,2,10,50,100 mu;g/L) after 20 h. Results HGF(10,50,100 mu;g/L) increased proliferation rates of cultur ed human RPE (18.2 % to 34.8 %), and at a concentration of 50 mu;g/L on day 3 HGF induced the maximal increase of proliferation (Plt;0.01); HGF showed effects on migration of 9.3 %, 113.0 %, 91.7 % and 50.3 % at the concentrations of 2,10,50, 100 mu;g/L, respectively. HGF stimulated t he best migratory response in RPE cells at a concentration of 10 mu;g/L (113 %). Conclusion HGF can induce the proliferation and obvious migration of RPE cells, consequently HGF was a mitogen and potent migratory factor for human cultured RPE cells. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2001,17:307-310)