May 2007
Volume 48, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   May 2007
PDGF Receptors Are Activated in Human Epiretinal Membranes
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • J. Z. Cui
    Ophthalmology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
  • H. Lei
    Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
  • A. Samad
    Ophthalmology, University of Dalhousie, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
  • S. Basavanthappa
    Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
  • M. M. Kwee
    Ophthalmology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
  • A. Aspinall
    Ophthalmology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
  • J. Boctzkes
    Ophthalmology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
  • A. Kazlauskas
    Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
  • J. A. Matsubara
    Ophthalmology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships J.Z. Cui, None; H. Lei, None; A. Samad, None; S. Basavanthappa, None; M.M. Kwee, None; A. Aspinall, None; J. Boctzkes, None; A. Kazlauskas, None; J.A. Matsubara, None.
  • Footnotes
    Support CIHR Grant, NIH Grant (EY012509)
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science May 2007, Vol.48, 5781. doi:
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    • Get Citation

      J. Z. Cui, H. Lei, A. Samad, S. Basavanthappa, M. M. Kwee, A. Aspinall, J. Boctzkes, A. Kazlauskas, J. A. Matsubara; PDGF Receptors Are Activated in Human Epiretinal Membranes. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2007;48(13):5781.

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      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

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Abstract

Purpose:: Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is one of the growth factors that are implicated in proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). The PDGF family consists of 5 family members, which differ in their ability to activate PDGF receptors (PDGFRs). A recent evaluation of the expression of PDGF isoforms in the vitreous from human donors indicated that PDGF-CC, one of the newly appreciated family members, was the predominant isoform. This observation predicts that PDGFRs are activated in epiretinal membranes that form in PVR patients. The purpose of this study was to test this prediction.

Methods:: Epiretinal membranes were obtained from patients undergoing vitreoretinal surgery to correct early stage (vitreous haze, pigment clumps, wrinkling of the inner retinal surface, rolled edges of retinal breaks, and retinal stiffness) PVR development. Two approaches were used to test for the presence of the PDGFRs: RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry (IHC). The activation state of the PDGFRs was assessed by IHC using phosphospecific PDGFR antibodies. A Zeiss Inverted Axiovert 200M Confocal Laser-scanning Microscope (Zeiss-LSM 510 META) was used to visualize immunohistochemical labeling. Tonsil tissues were used as positive control tissue for the IHC studies.

Results:: All membranes (n= 5) subjected to RT-PCR analysis showed expression of the PDGFRα and PDGFRß. Similarly, IHC analysis indicated that all membranes (n=7) were strongly positive for expression of both of the PDGFRs. Furthermore, activated forms of both PDGFRs were detected at moderate levels in all membranes.

Conclusions:: All epiretinal membranes isolated from early stage PVR donors expressed both PDGFRs, which were activated. These results identify PDGFRs as a potential therapeutic target for PVR patients.

Keywords: proliferative vitreoretinopathy • immunohistochemistry • gene/expression 
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