Artikel
Serum activity of metalloproteinases in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy, branch retinal vein occlusion and idiopathic central serous chorioretinopathy
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Autoren
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A. Jaksche
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Bonn
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O. Golubnitschaja
- Institute for Experimental Radiology, University of Bonn
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H. Moenkemann
- Institute for Experimental Radiology, University of Bonn
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S. E. Karl
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Bonn
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K. Yeghiazaryan
- Institute for Experimental Radiology, University of Bonn
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H. H. Schild
- Institute for Experimental Radiology, University of Bonn
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F. G. Holz
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Bonn
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K. U. Löffler
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Bonn
| Veröffentlicht: | 22. September 2004 |
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Gliederung
Text
Objective
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are supposed to play a major role in a variety of ocular diseases. In particular, MMP-2 and MMP-9 have been implicated in the formation of fibrovascular tissues in diabetic retinopathy. Using new molecular imaging techniques, we wanted to investigate whether these local effects can be recognized systemically.
Methods
Gelatinase activity (in relative units) of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in serum of 15 diabetic patients (6 with moderate proliferative retinopathy (PDR) and 9 with fairly normal retina), and of non-diabetic patients with either idiopathic central serous chorioretinopathy (ICSC) (n=9) or branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) (n=5) was determined using gel electropheresis and measuring gelatinase activity A and B by densiometric analysis of zymography at 62 kDa and 82 kDa zones corresponding to the active form of MMP-2 and MMP-9 respectively. In each of these patients, retinal fluorescein angiography was performed to evaluate retinal involvement.
Results
The specific activity of MMP-2 und MMP-9 was markedly increased in diabetic patients with PDR compared to those without retinopathy (mean of 1.860 versus 0.714 for MMP-2 and 1.165 versus 0.539 for MMP-9). While patients with BRVO revealed a mean activity level of 1.320 for MMP-2 and of 0.633 for MMP-9, patients with ICSC showed 0.376 for MMP-2 and 0.623 for MMP-9.
Conclusions
Distinct differences in serum gelatinase activity, whether primary or secondary, are found between the different groups of patients investigated in this study. The increased MMP-2 activity in patients with BRVO might indicate a possible contribution of this enzyme in the pathogenesis of subsequent proliferative disease. The level of systemic MMP-9 activity, on the other hand, might be a possible marker for the development and extent of PDR. Thus, although the number of our patients is still very small for a significant statistical evaluation, our results indicate that local ocular disease processes might be monitored systemically. Future studies will aim at a possible time correlation between pattern changes of certain proteins and the onset and progression of diabetic neovascularization.
