Abstract
Purpose:
Retinal detachment (RD) is a sight-threatening surgical emergency. Inflammatory and cell activation cascades following the detachment of the neurosensory retina from the pigmented epithelium cells, lead to photoreceptor death, eventually impairing vision. Microparticles (MPs) are plasma membrane fragments measuring less than 1 µm in diameter, shed from activated or pre-apoptotic cells. Their biological activity is involved in intercellular communication, inflammation and apoptosis. The main purpose was to determine whether MP shedding was increased in the vitreous of patients with retinal detachment.
Methods:
Prospective, comparative study. Levels of vitreous MPs (AnnexinV+, PNA+ and PNA+AnnexinV+ microparticles) and cytokines (MCP-1, IL-6, ICAM-1) from control (n=41) and RD eyes (n=49) were analyzed by flow cytometry and cytometric bead array. MP concentrations were then correlated to the cytokine levels and to the clinical data.
Results:
AnnexinV+, PNA+ and PNA+AnnexinV+ microparticle shedding was increased in RD eyes (t test, p<0.01), p<0.01, p<0.01, respectively). AnnexinV+ MPs were correlated to the MCP-1 and ICAM-1 vitreous concentration.
Conclusions:
Microparticle concentrations in the vitreous are increased in retinal detachment. Their correlation with MCP-1 cytokine levels suggests that they might play a role in making the link between the mechanical stress and the inflammation process leading to proliferative vitreoretinopathy and photoreceptor death.