Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: The cytokine leptin exhibits activities relevant to angiogenesis and wound healing. We and others have detected the functional leptin receptor within fibrovascular membranes associated with diabetic retinopathy and choroidal neovascularization. Herein we determine whether leptin receptor is present in non-vascular epiretinal membranes. Methods: Idiopathic epiretinal membranes (n=3) were removed from patients at the time of vitreoretinal surgery, fixed in formalin, reacted as free-floating whole mounts with antisera to leptin receptor and the isolectin griffonia simplicifolia (a marker for vascular endothelial cells), and examined by confocal microscopy. Results: All membranes exhibited a diffuse distribution of spheroid or polygonal cells with numerous processes positive for leptin receptor. No cells were positive for isolectin binding. The mostly acellular stroma of the membranes failed to label with either marker. Conclusion: Leptin receptor is present in non-vascularized idiopathic epiretinal membranes. The cell type exhibiting the receptor appears to be astrocytic, based on known presence of astrocytes in human epiretinal membranes, and on double-labeling of retinal nerve fiber layer astrocytes with leptin receptor and the glial-specific antigen GFAP (not shown). Together with previous studies showing that leptin is present in the vitreous humor, these results suggest that leptin receptor may play a role in pathological fibrotic processes within the eye.
Keywords: 507 pathology: human • 524 proliferative vitreoretinopathy • 628 vitreoretinal surgery