The significant relationships between Fibronectin, Tenascin-C and Periostin in the eyes of the patients with diabetic retinopathy

Abstract

Purpose: Periostin (PN) , Tenascine-C (TN) and Fibronectin (FN) are extracellular matrix (ECM)proteins, which compose fibrovascular membrane (FMV) in ocular proliferative diseases. We have previously reported that PN expression increased in the vitreous of patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).We examined the correlations among TN, FN and PN in the vitreous of patients with macular hole (MH), diabetic macular edema (DME) and PDR.

Methods: Vitreous fluid was obtained from 198 individuals (MH of 28 eyes in 28 individuals, DME of 20 eyes in 20 individuals, PDR of 163eyes in 150 individuals) undergoing pars plana vitrectomy at Fukuoka University Chikushi Hospital and Kyushu University (from October 2007 to March 2011) in accordance with Human Discarded Specimen Research Protocol approved by institutional review boards. Undiluted samples were collected at the time of surgery, immediately stored at -80 °C until used. The concentrations of PN/ TN/ FN were determined with ELISA method at the same time.

Results: The concentrations of PN/ TN/ FN significantly increased in patients with DME (average 1.48/ 10062/ 0.64 ng/ml) and PDR (average 12.16/ 4131/ 0.92 ng/ml) compared to those in MH (0.19/ 749/ 0.36 ng/ml) (p<0.01). PN did not correlate with either TN or FN in MH, while there is a significant relationships among FN, TN and PN in DME (ρ=0.73(PN-TN)/ 0.72 (PN-FN), p<0.05), and PDR (ρ=0.69 (PN-TN)/ 0.73 (PN-FN), p<0.01).

Conclusions: ECM proteins including PN, TN and FN may participate in the progression of diabetic retinopathy.

Keywords: 499 diabetic retinopathy • 519 extracellular matrix • 762 vitreoretinal surgery