色素上皮源性因子在眼科研究中的进展

Advance studies of PEDF in the ophthalmology

色素上皮源性因子(PEDF)最初是在胎儿视网膜色素上皮(RPE)细胞条件培养基中发现的一种神经营养因子。PEDF属于丝氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂超家族,是具有神经保护与抑制新生血管的神经营养因子,也是维持角膜、玻璃体无血管状态的主要细胞因子。PEDF的改变与多种眼病相关,尤其是视网膜脉络膜血管性、退行性疾病,也是治疗这类疾病的靶点之一。就PEDF的结构、功能以及在眼科方面的研究作一综述。

Pigment epithelium-derived factor （PEDF） is a protein encoded by a single gene with the molecular weight of 50 000 and shows high homologization. PEDF is secreted by the retinal pigment epithelium and other cells in the body and firstly identified as a secreting protein in conditioned medium from cultured human fetal retinal pigment epithelium （RPE） cell. PEDF belongs to the family of serine protease inhibitor （serpin）. The main activities of PEDF include two categories：the first one is to protect retinal neurons from light damage, oxidative stress and glutamate toxicity and second, it can inhibit the growth of blood vessels in the eye. PEDF is a critical cytokine maintaining avascular status in cornea and vitreous body. The change of PEDF is correlated with many kinds of eye diseases,especially choroidal and retinal vascular and regressive diseases,so it is thought to be a target to treat these diseases. The purpose of this article was to review the structure and biological functions of PEDF, manipulate the acting mechanism of PEDF and describe the ways by which PEDF can be used as a therapeutic tool for the eye disease.