Elevated aqueous endothelin-1 concentrations in advanced diabetic retinopathy

Hae Min Kang, Md Hasanuzzaman, So Won Kim, Hyoung Jun Koh, Sung Chul Lee

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Abstract

Purpose Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent vasoconstrictor which seems to be involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy (DR). However, studies on intraocular ET-1 in DR have been limited. Thus, we investigated aqueous ET-1 levels in patients with DR. Methods A total 85 subjects were included in this prospective study. Those were classified into three groups: advanced DR group included those with severe nonproliferative DR or proliferative DR, whereas early DR group included those with mild nonproliferative DR or moderative nonproliferative DR. Those who underwent cataract surgery and had no concomitant ocular disease were included in the control group. Aqueous humor levels of ET-1 were obtained before intravitreal bevacizumab injection (IVB) and after 1 month for the DR patients, and at the time of cataract surgery for the control group. Results Advanced DR group included 40 eyes (47.1%), whereas early DR group did 19 eyes (22.4%), and control group (26 eyes, 30.5%). Mean aqueous ET-1 level was 10.1±4.1 pg/ mL (6.0–21.0 pg/mL) in advanced DR group, 1.9±0.7 pg/mL (0.6–2.8 pg/mL) in early DR group, and 2.1±1.0 pg/mL (0.7–3.9 pg/mL) in control group (P < 0.001). Advanced DR group was further subdivided into severe nonproliferative DR (15 eyes, 12.8%) and proliferative DR (25 eyes, 34.3%). Mean aqueous ET-1 level was 10.1±4.3 pg/mL (6.0–20.1 pg/mL) in patients with severe nonproliferative DR, and 10.0±4.0 pg/mL (6.0–21.0 pg/mL) in those with proliferative DR (P = 0.928) at baseline. Mean ET-1 level at 1 month after intravitreal injection was 2.5±1.0 pg/mL (0.3–4.8 pg/mL) in patients with severe proliferative DR and 2.9 ±1.7 pg/mL (1.0–7.0 pg/mL) in those with proliferative DR (P = 0.443). Mean aqueous ET-1 level was significantly reduced in both groups (P < 0.001, respectively). Conclusion The mean aqueous ET-1 level was significantly higher in the eyes with advanced DR than those with early DR and the control group. The mean aqueous ET-1 level was significantly reduced after intravitreal injections in the advanced DR group. Based on our results, future studies on the exact role of ET-1 in the pathogenesis of DR and future implication for intervention would be helpful for managing DR.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere0268353
JournalPloS one
Volume17
Issue number5 May
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022 May

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This research is supported by a grant of the Korea Health Technology R & D Project through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), funded by the Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea (Grant number: HI21C1251). None of the authors have a proprietary interest in this work. The sponsor or funding organization had no role in the design or conduct of this research. A. Contributions of Authors: Designed and conducted study (HM Kang, HJ Koh, and SC Lee); collected the data (HM Kang, M Hasanuzzama, and SW Kim); managed, analyzed, and interpreted data (HM Kang, M Hasanuzzama, SW Kim, HJ Koh, and SC Lee); prepared, reviewed, and approved manuscript (HM Kang, M Hasanuzzama, SW Kim, HJ Koh, and SC Lee). B. Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no competing interests. C. Other Acknowledgments: None.

Publisher Copyright:
Copyright: © 2022 Kang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General

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