Impaired retinal pigment epithelium in paclitaxel-induced macular edema

Objectives Diabetic macular edema (DME) is a complication of diabetes mellitus that leads to diabetic retinopathy. Thus far, the role of serum exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) in DME progression remains elusive. This study investigated serum exosomal miRNAs from patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and DME to identify miRNAs associated with expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a pivotal component in DME progression; it also evaluated the diagnostic values of these miRNAs for DME. Methods Serum was collected from patients with T2D who did (n = 20) and did not have DME (n = 24). Exosomes were isolated from serum and subjected to real-time polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, luciferase reporter, and miRNA profiling analyses. Results VEGF was significantly upregulated in ARPE-19 cells treated with exosomes from patients with T2D and DME, compared with exosomes from patients with T2D alone. Among the top 10 downregulated miRNAs identified during exosomal miRNA profiling, miR-377-3p inhibited the expression of VEGF. Luciferase reporter assays confirmed that miR-377-3p could directly regulate VEGF expression. Receiver operating characteristic analysis identified serum exosomal miR-377-3p as a potential biomarker for DME. Conclusion Serum exosomal miR-377-3p inhibits VEGF expression to suppress retinal pigment epithelium proliferation and offers a diagnostic biomarker for DME.

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Slow progression of exudative age related macular degeneration associated with hypertrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium

F1000Research ◽

10.12688/f1000research.5683.1 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 3 ◽

pp. 293 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jeffrey Stern ◽

David Eveleth ◽

Jennifer Masula ◽

Sally Temple

Keyword(s):

Retinal Pigment Epithelium ◽

Macular Degeneration ◽

Macular Edema ◽

Disease Progression ◽

Retrospective Analysis ◽

Pigment Epithelium ◽

Retinal Pigment ◽

Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽

Exudative Amd ◽

Age Related

Rationale: Choroidal neovascular (CNV) lesions in younger patients are often accompanied by the appearance of a surrounding ring of pigment that is associated with disease regression or slowed disease progression. In older patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), however, hypertrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is known to occur but has not previously been reported to be associated with CNV regression. This report describes the clinical course of a case series of AMD patients with pigment hypertrophy adjacent to CNV associated with stabilization of the CNV lesion.Methods: A retrospective analysis of exudative AMD patients seen by a single retina specialist over a 7-year period.Results: Retrospective analysis of 955 exudative AMD patients revealed pigment hypertrophy associated with CNV in 33 patients. A ring of pigment surrounded CNV in 6 of these. Three representative patients are presented to illustrate the decrease in macular edema, reduced fluorescein leakage and slowed CNV progression that was associated with a pigment ring around CNV in AMD. Pigment hypertrophy was associated with blocked fluorescein leakage and exudative AMD patients with a complete pigment ring maintained stable visual acuity, macular edema, fluorescein leakage and CNV lesion size without treatment for intervals of up to 21 months. Conclusion: We report slowed disease progression in AMD patients who develop pigment around CNV. The slow rate of disease progression in the AMD patient subgroup having a pigment ring is a factor to consider in determining the treatment interval for exudative AMD patients.

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Comparative estimation of laser coagulation efficiency in macular and microphotocoagulation of high density in diabetic maculopathy treatment

Ophthalmology journal ◽

10.17816/ov9443-45 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 43-45

Author(s):

Tat’yana V Kotsur ◽

Aleksandr S Izmaylov

Keyword(s):

Retinal Pigment Epithelium ◽

Side Effects ◽

Macular Edema ◽

Pigment Epithelium ◽

Retinal Pigment ◽

High Density ◽

Laser Coagulation ◽

Retinal Sensitivity ◽

Diabetic Maculopathy ◽

Laser Applications

Subthreshold microphotocoagulation (MicroPulase) leads to development of barely visible or invisible retinal burns and has been shown to be effective in macular edema treatment without any side effects inherent to the ETDRS method (atrophy of retinal pigment epithelium and choroid, decrease of retinal sensitivity). Microphotocoagulation efficacy may be increased by high density laser applications, however in modern literature rare publications draw attention to this matter.

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High-voltage electron microscopy of subretinal scar formation

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100122836 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 50 (1) ◽

pp. 486-487

Author(s):

G.E. Korte ◽

M. Marko ◽

G. Hageman

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Monoclonal Antibody ◽

Retinal Pigment Epithelium ◽

Glial Cells ◽

High Voltage ◽

Pigment Epithelium ◽

Retinal Pigment ◽

Sodium Iodate ◽

High Voltage Electron Microscopy ◽

Voltage Electron

Sodium iodate iv. damages the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in rabbits. Where RPE does not regenerate (e.g., 1,2) Muller glial cells (MC) forma subretinal scar that replaces RPE. The MC response was studied by HVEM in 3D computer reconstructions of serial thick sections, made using the STEREC0N program (3), and the HVEM at the NYS Dept. of Health in Albany, NY. Tissue was processed for HVEM or immunofluorescence localization of a monoclonal antibody recognizing MG microvilli (4).

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