Abstract
Purpose :
Regulator of G-protein signaling 5 (RGS5) is a responsible molecule for pathological tumor neovascularization and has been reported to be involved in cancer, wound healing, and fibrosis. In this study, we investigated the expression of RGS5 in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).
Methods :
Thirty vitreous humor and six fibrovascular membrane (FVM) samples were collected during vitrectomy in patients with PDR. Thirty vitreous humor and six FVM samples were collected during vitrectomy in patients with epiretinal membrane as controls. The expression of RGS5 in FVM was identified by immunostaining. The mRNA expression level of RGS5 was detected by quantitative RT-PCR, and the concentration of RGS5 in vitreous humor was detected by ELISA.
Results :
Immunostaining showed co-staining of RGS5 and αSMA in FVMs from PDR patients. The mRNA expression levels of RGS5 were significantly higher in PDR patients compared with controls (P<0.01). RGS5 levels in the vitreous humor were significantly higher in PDR patients compared with controls (P<0.001). Among PDR patients, mean RGS5 level in the vitreous humor were significantly higher in eyes with FVM than in eyes without FVM (P<0.02).
Conclusions :
Our results suggest that RGS5 may be involved in the development of FVM associated with PDR.
This is a 2021 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.