Mol Vis
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The aim of this study was to assess the roles of plasma cytokines in diabetic retinopathy (DR) and their relationship with the severity of DR. ⋯ TNF-α might be involved in the progression of DR, especially in the pathogenesis of PDR. TNF-α is a potential cytokine for the prognosis of DR and might act as a therapeutic target in DR.
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Scleral remodeling is an important mechanism underlying the development of myopia. Atropine, an antagonist of G protein-coupled muscarinic receptors, is currently used as an off-label treatment for myopia. Regulator of G-protein signaling 2 (RGS2) functions as an intracellular selective inhibitor of muscarinic receptors. In this study we measured scleral RGS2 expression and scleral remodeling in an animal model of myopia in the presence or absence of atropine treatment. ⋯ We identified a significant RGS2 upregulation and collagen type I downregulation in the sclera of FDM eyes, which could be partially attenuated by atropine treatment. Our data suggest that targeting dysregulated RGS2 may provide a novel strategy for development of therapeutic agents to suppress myopia progression.
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Εnhanced expression of transcription factor hypoxia inducible factor HIF-1α is known to play a critical role in the modulation of cell metabolism and survival pathways as well as having stem-cell-like properties. Furthermore, accumulated data reveal the existence of cross-regulation between the oxygen-sensing and heat shock pathways contributing to the adaptation of cells under stressful conditions. Pterygium, a stem cell disorder with premalignant features, has been reported to demonstrate hypoxia. The purpose of this study was to investigate the co-expression patterns of transcription factor HIF-1α and von Hippel Lindau protein (pVHL)--which normally acts to keep levels of HIF-1α activity low under normoxic conditions--in pterygium and normal conjunctival human samples. Additionally, expression of HIF-1α compared to the activation of heat shock proteins (Hsp90, Hsp70, and Hsp27) was studied. Emphasis was placed on the detection of HIF-1α and Hsp90, which associates with and stabilizes HIF-1α to promote its transcriptional activity. ⋯ The upregulation of coordinated activation of HIF-1α and Hsps in pterygium may represent an adaptive process for the survival of cells under stressful conditions. The significance of the association of HIF-1α with Hsp90 with respect to the therapeutic approach of pterygium requires further evaluation.
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To investigate the genotype and phenotype in families with adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette, sub-family A, member 4 (ABCA4)-associated retinal degeneration. ⋯ This study confirms that ABCA4 mutations lead to a spectrum of retinal degenerations ranging from STGD to CRD or arRP. At the time of diagnosis, it is not possible to predict the severity of the condition only from genotyping. Our results suggest that prolongation of implicit times for the ff-ERG and/or mERG seem to be associated with progressive conditions such as CRD and arRP. Since ABCA4 mutations are common in the general population, different family members can harbor various combinations of mutations resulting in diverse phenotype and prognosis in the same family, further emphasizing the importance of a combination of genetic and electrophysiological tests at the first visit and follow-up.