Level of vascular endothelial growth factor and interleukin-6 in aqueous humor in diabetic retinopathy patients

Abstract

To explore the role of vascular endothelial growth factor and interleukin-6 in the aqueous humor in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy(DR). Aqueous humor samples were collected in type 2 diabetic patients during cataract surgery. The classification of DR was assigned based on the fundus examination and fluorescein angiography after cataract surgery. The experiment group included non-diabetic retinopathy (NDR,21 cases),background diabetic retinopathy (BDR,26 cases) and Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR,19 cases). The control group was the healthy cataract patients (20 cases). The levels of VEGF and IL-6 in the aqueous humor was assessed using the ELISA technique. The level of VEGF in NDR,BDR and PDR cases were(240.30+/-26.15)pg/ml, (292.27+/-58.91)pg/ml and (477.41+/-91.01)pg/m1, respectively. The level of IL-6 in NDR, BDR and PDR cases were (160.83+/-33.41)pg/ml, (238.60+/-62.23)pg/ml and (389.13+/-90.35)pg/ml,respectively. The levels of VEGF and IL-6 in the aqueous humour from the control group were (140.58+/-26.27) pg/ml,(82.72+/-21.53)pg/ml.The level of VEGF and IL-6 were significantly different in experiment and control groups(F=113.67,p<0.01; F=106.53, p<0.01). In the aqueous humor of diabetic patients increased significantly(p<0.O1). The level of VEGF and IL-6 was significantly correlated with each other in experiment group (r=0.995,p<0.O1). The levels of VEGF(r=0.792,0.826,0.841,p<0.01)and IL-6(r=0.829, 0.817.0.896,p<0.01)were also significantly correlated with the duration of DR. VEGF and IL-6 play important roles in the development of DR. The levels of these two factors are correlated with each other in DR patients.