TY - JOUR
T1 - Angiogenic factors in human proliferative sickle cell retinopathy
AU - Cao, Jingtai
AU - Mathews, Michaela Kunz
AU - McLeod, D. Scott
AU - Merges, Carol
AU - Hjelmeland, Leonard M.
AU - Lutty, Gerard A.
PY - 1999
Y1 - 1999
N2 - Background/aims - Preretinal neovascular formations called sea fans develop at the border of non-perfused peripheral retina in sickle cell retinopathy. Angiogenic factors which could contribute to their development, however, have not been examined previously. The objective of this study was to determine immunohistochemically if vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) were associated with sea fan formations. Methods - Immunohistochemistry on cryosections was used to localise bFGF, VEGF, heparan sulphate proteoglycan, human serum albumin, collagens IV and II, and von Willebrand factor in tissue from five sickle cell and one control subject. Results - The greatest immunoreactivity for VEGF and bFGF was in the feeder and preretinal vessels of sea fans (p < O.01). The most prominent reaction product was localised to vascular endothelial cells. In retinal vessels, VEGF and bFGF immunereactivities were greater in sickle cell subjects (both proliferative and nonproliferative) than in the control subject (p < 0.01 and p < 0.02 respectively). In the sickle cell retina, no angiogenic factor immunoreactivity was detected in nonperfused periphery and there was no significant difference in bFGF or VEGF immunoreactivity between perfused retina and the border of perfused and non-perfused areas. Conclusion - Our results demonstrate for the first time that VEGF and bFGF are associated with sea fan formations in sickle cell retinopathy. Both factors may function in an autocrine manner because immunoreactivity for these factors was greater within the neovascularisation than in adjacent retina.
AB - Background/aims - Preretinal neovascular formations called sea fans develop at the border of non-perfused peripheral retina in sickle cell retinopathy. Angiogenic factors which could contribute to their development, however, have not been examined previously. The objective of this study was to determine immunohistochemically if vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) were associated with sea fan formations. Methods - Immunohistochemistry on cryosections was used to localise bFGF, VEGF, heparan sulphate proteoglycan, human serum albumin, collagens IV and II, and von Willebrand factor in tissue from five sickle cell and one control subject. Results - The greatest immunoreactivity for VEGF and bFGF was in the feeder and preretinal vessels of sea fans (p < O.01). The most prominent reaction product was localised to vascular endothelial cells. In retinal vessels, VEGF and bFGF immunereactivities were greater in sickle cell subjects (both proliferative and nonproliferative) than in the control subject (p < 0.01 and p < 0.02 respectively). In the sickle cell retina, no angiogenic factor immunoreactivity was detected in nonperfused periphery and there was no significant difference in bFGF or VEGF immunoreactivity between perfused retina and the border of perfused and non-perfused areas. Conclusion - Our results demonstrate for the first time that VEGF and bFGF are associated with sea fan formations in sickle cell retinopathy. Both factors may function in an autocrine manner because immunoreactivity for these factors was greater within the neovascularisation than in adjacent retina.
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U2 - 10.1136/bjo.83.7.838
DO - 10.1136/bjo.83.7.838
M3 - Article
C2 - 10381672
AN - SCOPUS:0032800917
VL - 83
SP - 838
EP - 846
JO - British Journal of Ophthalmology
JF - British Journal of Ophthalmology
SN - 0007-1161
IS - 7
ER -