Abstract
Purpose:
Alpha-b crystallin (CryαB) is a molecular chaperone, and one of the small heat shock protein (sHSP). CryαB has multiple other functions including the prevention of cell death, neuroprotection, and interaction with other proteins or cytokines to affect cell signaling. To investigate the neuroprotective function of CryαB in eyes with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD), we determined the level of vitreous CryαB in eyes with RRD.
Methods:
Vitreous samples were collected from 32 eyes of 32 consecutive patients with RRD during vitrectomy. The concentration of CryαB was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Vitreous samples were also collected during vitrectomy from 16 patients with idiopathic macular hole and epiretinal membrane and used as controls. The relationships between the CryαB level and the extent of the retinal detachment and the interval from onset to vitrectomy were determined.
Results:
The mean age of the RRD cases was 56 years (range, 31 to 67 years) and 66 years (range, 49 to 77 years) in the controls. The level of CryαB was significantly higher in the RRD cases (36.7±37.4 pg/ml) than that in controls (8.4±12.2 pg/ml; P=0.0028). The CryαB level was significantly correlated with the extent of retinal detachment (P=0.009) but not with the duration from onset to surgery (P=0.966).
Conclusions:
The increased level of CryαB and greater area of detached retina suggests that CryαB may play a neuroprotective role by preventing retinal cell death which occurs after retinal detachment.
Keywords: 697 retinal detachment •
488 crystallins •
615 neuroprotection