Plasma and aqueous humor levels of adiponutrin and pannexin 1 in patients with and without diabetic retinopathy

AIM: To evaluate plasma and aqueous levels of adiponutrin and pannexin 1 in patients with and without diabetic retinopathy.METHODS: The study included three age and gendermatched groups of 20 cataract patients with no diabetes or additional disease(Group C), 20 cataract patients with diabetes and no retinopathy(Group DM+C), and 20 cataract patients with diabetic retinopathy(Group DR+C).All the patients were examined with respect to body mass index(BMI), fasting plasma glucose, hemoglobin A1c(HbA1c), and lipid profile.Phacoemulsification and intraocular lens(Phaco+IOL) implantation were performed to all patients in all the groups, and aqueous samples were taken during the operation.The plasma and aqueous adiponutrin and pannexin 1 levels were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.RESULTS: A statistically significant difference was determined between the groups with respect to BMI, fasting plasma glucose, and HbA1c levels(P<0.05 for all parameters tested).The plasma adiponutrin levels of Group DR+C were statistically significantly lower than those of Group C and Group DM+C(P<0.001, P=0.004).No statistically significant difference was determined in the aqueous adiponutrin levels in three groups.The plasma pannexin 1 levels of Groups DM+C and DR+C were statistically significantly lower than those of Group C(both P=0.001).The aqueous pannexin 1 levels of Group DR+C were statistically significantly higher than those of Group C and Group DM+C(P=0.001, P<0.001).CONCLUSION: Adiponutrin and pannexin 1, which play an important role in the pathophysiology of diabetes and obesity, and have a regulatory role in hyperglycemia and insulin resistance.The measurement of adiponutrin and pannexin 1 levels may support clinicians in determining the risk of DR development.

Serum vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 and adropin levels in age-related macular degeneration

AIM： To investigate the serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2（VEGFR-2） and adropin in age-related macular degeneration（AMD）patients.·METHODS： Ninety-eight AMD patients were included in the study. Seventy-eight age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers were recruited as the control group.Fundus florescein angiography and optical coherence tomography were performed to assess the posterior segment details. Serum VEGFR-2 and adropin levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and compared between the study groups.· RESULTS： AMD group had significantly increased foveal retinal thickness, serum LDL and HDL levels and significantly decreased subfoveal choroidal thickness（P =0.01, 0.047, 0.025 and 〈0.001, respectively）. Serum VEGFR-2level revealed a significant decrease in AMD patients compared to controls（26.48 ±6.44 vs 30.42 ±7.92 ng/m L,P 〈0.001）. There was an insignificant increase in serum adropin level in AMD patients（6.17±3.19 vs 5.79±2.71 ng/m L,P =0.4）. Serum level of VEGFR-2 in AMD patients had a significant negative correlation with foveal retinal thickness（r =-0.226, P =0.025） and a significant positive correlation with subfoveal choroidal thickness（r=0.2, P=0.048）.·CONCLUSION： The current study demonstrated that the decreased serum VEGFR-2 level may be considered in the development of AMD. Adropin does not seem to play a role in the pathogenesis of AMD.