Abstract
Purpose: :
To determine the concentration of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), a neuroprotective and antiangiogenic factor, in the aqueous humor of eyes with retinitis pigmentosa (RP).
Methods: :
Aqueous humor samples were obtained under topical anesthesia and with complete sterility conditions in the surgery room from 10 patients with RP; the control samples were obtained from 12 patients during the cataract surgery with no other ocular disease. The PEDF concentration was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results: :
The main levels of PEDF in the eyes with retinitis pigmentosa (130040±136105 pg/ml, mean ± standard deviation (SD), P=0.003) were significantly lower than in the control eyes (448822±154817 pg/ml).
Conclusions: :
The lower levels of PEDF in eyes with RP may be related to the loss of the retinal ganglion cells and retinal pigment epithelium cells that synthesize PEDF. These levels can explain some of the clinical manifestations of the disease related to the retina and blood vessels ischemia. Neuroprotective treatments can be a future alternative for these patients and PEDF can have an important role in these strategies as a neuroprotective factor.
Keywords: growth factors/growth factor receptors • retinitis