Increased Levels of DKK1 in Vitreous Fluid of Patients with Pathological Myopia and the Correlation between DKK1 Levels and Axial Length

Abstract

ABSTRACT Purpose Dickkopf 1 (DKK1) functions as a natural antagonist of the canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway. The purpose of this study was to examine the expression of DKK1 in vitreous samples of patients with pathological myopia, in order to search for possible correlations between DKK1 and axial length. Materials and Methods The expression of DKK1 and other cytokines in vitreous samples of 44 non-myopic eyes, 42 eyes with low-to-moderate myopia, and 51 eyes with pathological myopia were examined using multiplex cytokine detection technology. Ophthalmologic characteristics, including axial length and subfoveal choroidal thickness, were clinically measured for further analysis. Results The intravitreous levels of DKK1 (P < .0001) were markedly higher in the pathological myopia group than in the control group. There were no differences of DKK1 levels in different vitreoretinal conditions. Additionally, we found that the DKK1 levels were positively correlated with HGF (β = 0.268, P = .032), and TIMP-3 (β = 0.209, P = .047) levels, as well as with axial length (β = 0.714, P < .0001) in the pathological myopia group. Conclusions Elevated levels of DKK1 were found in the eyes with elongated axial length.