Abstract
Purpose: :
Macular edema is one of the adverse effects after scatter retinal laser photocoagulation although the mechanism is not completely understood. The purpose of the study is to determine changes in the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and other cytokines in murine retina following scatter retinal laser photocoagulation.
Methods: :
Scatter retinal laser photocoagulation (PHC) was performed with the diode laser (532nm, 200mW, 100um). PHC was performed on wild–type C57BL/6J mice and the eyes were enucleated on 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7 days after laser treatment. The sensory retina was separated from the RPE–choroid after the enucleation. The protein levels in the both tissues were measured by ELISA for VEGF and transforming growth factor ß2 (TGF–ß2). The tissue sample concentration was calculated from the standard curve and normalized for total protein.
Results: :
VEGF protein levels significantly increased by 1 day after PHC both in the RPE–choroid and the sensory retina. The increase was more prominent in the RPE–choroid than in the sensory retina. The VEGF concentrations reached to the maximum at day 3 after PHC and stayed elevated until day 7. TGF–ß2 concentrations also increased in the RPE–choroid and the sensory retina after PHC, and peaked on day 3.
Conclusions: :
Scatter retinal laser photocoagulation induced the upregulation of VEGF and TGF–ß2 in the sensory retina and the RPE–choroid. The increased levels of VEGF after PHC may be one of the causes for the development of macular edema after panretinal laser photocoagulation.
Keywords: cytokines/chemokines • diabetic retinopathy • laser