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1From the Eye Research Institute Maastricht, Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands; and the Departments of 2Basic Neuroscience and 3Clinical Epidemiology and Medical Technology Assessment, University Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
| Abstract |
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METHODS. Subretinal fluids were collected prospectively from 144 patients during surgery for scleral buckling. TGF-ß2 and HGF were measured with commercially available ELISA kits. Thirty patients in whom a redetachment caused by postoperative PVR developed, were compared with 114 patients with an uncomplicated retinal detachment. The controls included 18 vitreous samples from patients with macular hole or pucker. Multivariate regression analysis was used to compare the relative roles of growth factors and clinical factors in the development of PVR.
RESULTS. The median amount of subretinal TGF-ß2 was approximately two times lower in patients with postoperative PVR (1.9 ng/mL) than in the uncomplicated detachment group (3.3 ng/mL; P = 0.002). TGF-ß2 levels in the PVR-positive group were similar to control vitreous levels (1.8 ng/mL). Subretinal HGF concentrations were not significantly different between the two groups of patients (PVR positive: 8.8 ng/mL; PVR negative: 8.9 ng/mL), but were higher than control vitreous levels (4.6 ng/mL; P = 0.01). Stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that of all factors under study, decreased TGF-ß2 content was the exclusive predictor of postoperative PVR (P = 0.01).
CONCLUSIONS. High TGF-ß2 levels in subretinal fluid at the time of primary retinal detachment may protect a patient against subsequent development of PVR.
After RPE cells release from their monolayer, HGF may continue PVR progression by acting as a mitogen, as has been shown for hepatocytes and several other cell types.8 At this stage, the process becomes more complex, involving other factors that contribute to the progression of PVR. For example, it has been suggested that latent TGF-ß2, present in high levels in the vitreous, becomes activated when it is exposed to the RPE cell layer and that it exacerbates the deposition of collagen.9 Furthermore, the detection of three TGF-ß isoforms and TGF-ß receptors I and II in epiretinal membranes is indicative of their involvement in PVR.10 11
Several studies have further supported a role for TGF-ß2 as shown by the elevated TGF-ß2 levels in vitreous aspirates of patients with PVR.2 12 13 These studies can indeed give clues about growth factor involvement. Vitreous, however, is not the fluid that surrounds the RPE cell layer after initial retinal detachment, and, in that situation, analysis of subretinal fluid would be more appropriate. Furthermore, the time point at which subretinal fluid is obtained (i.e., at the time of primary retinal detachment surgery) can give clues to the initial local factors that may trigger the RPE cells. To investigate, we analyzed TGF-ß2 and HGF levels in subretinal fluids aspirated during primary detachment surgery. Data from patients who had postsurgical development of PVR were compared with those of patients in who did not. We found decreased TGF-ß2 levels in patients with PVR, whereas HGF levels were similar. The higher TGF-ß2 levels observed in uncomplicated retinal detachments suggest a local suppressive role in the early stages of PVR development.
| Methods |
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Sample Collection
Undiluted subretinal fluid samples were obtained after scleral puncture with a 25-gauge bent needle and before possible cryotherapy, as described elsewhere.14 15 Undiluted vitrectomy samples were obtained by conventional three-port, closed vitrectomy by manual suction at the start of vitrectomy before opening the infusion line. All samples were collected in sterile tubes (Eppendorf, Fremont, CA) and stored at 80°C. Sample volumes ranged from 100 µL to 1 mL.
Protein and Growth Factor Assays
Total protein concentration was measured in triplicate by the Lowry method, with bovine serum albumin as a standard. Singular growth factor measurements were performed with HGF and TGF-ß2 ELISA kits (Quantikine; R&D Systems, Minneapolis, MN) in accordance with the manufacturers instructions. The assay standards ranged from 31.2 to 2000 pg/mL for TGF-ß2, and 125 to 8000 pg/mL for HGF. Subretinal fluids and vitreous were diluted 7.8 times for TGF-ß2 and 3 times for HGF. These dilution factors were calculated from data of other investigators.6 13 The lowest vitreous concentrations these studies reportthat is, 2.4 ng/mL for TGF-ß2 and 2 ng/mL for HGF6 13 would, after dilution, result in concentrations that are in the logistic middle of the detection range of the assay, 300 and 700 pg/mL, respectively. To measure total TGF-ß2 activity, samples were acid activated before the assay, according to the manufacturers protocol. In brief, 4 µL of 1 N HCl was added to a 20-µL ocular fluid sample. After 10 minutes, the sample was neutralized with 4 µL 1.2 N NaOH/0.5 M HEPES, and 128 µL of calibrator diluent from the kit was added, resulting in a 7.8x dilution. If measurements exceeded the standard range, samples were diluted accordingly, and the assay was repeated. In some cases, we could not test all biochemical variables in the immunoassays due to a limited sample volume. The following sample sizes for each variable remained: TGF-ß2 with n = 122, HGF with n = 119, total protein with n = 128.
Clinical Variables
For all patients, we collected potential clinical risk factors (Table 1) 16 and the following clinical variables: sex, follow-up time, occurrence of a redetachment, postoperative PVR grade, and preoperative and final postoperative best corrected Snellen visual acuity (also with pinhole correction). When present, PVR was graded according to the Classification of Retinal Detachment with PVR.17 Data were collected as 0 (no PVR), 1 (grade A), 2 (grade B), 3 (grade C), and 4 (grade D). In some patients in the PVR-negative group, preoperative grades up to level 3 were observed. This did not lead to a redetachment after surgery, and therefore these patients were categorized in the patient group that did not have a redetachment caused by PVR. Moreover, after primary surgery, PVR was absent in these patients, according to the aforementioned classification system,17 although it cannot exclude the microscopic presence of membranes.
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For statistical analysis, Snellen visual acuity was transformed into logMAR (logarithm of minimal angle of resolution) acuity, as described earlier.19 Net visual outcome was calculated by subtracting logMAR visual acuity at final follow-up from logMAR visual acuity at primary detachment surgery. All possible causes of poor postoperative visual acuity were notedfor example, macular degeneration, macular hole, and glaucoma.
Statistical Analysis
Data were not normally distributed and therefore are presented as the median with minimum and maximum values in box-and-whisker plots. Patients who had a redetachment due to postoperative PVR were compared with patients who did not. The nonparametric Mann-Whitney test was used for ordinal variables such as growth factor level and duration of detachment. The
2 test was used to compare nominal variables such as diabetes mellitus status and preoperative myopia. The Spearman rank correlation test was used to test the correlation between the levels of total protein, TGF-ß2, and HGF, and to test their association with ordinal clinical variables. Differences were considered significant at P < 0.05, with two-tailed testing. The biochemical and clinical variables that scored as significant or close to significance (P < 0.15) in the univariate tests were further analyzed with forward stepwise multivariate regression analysis. The biochemical data were categorized into tertiles, and missing values were assigned to the fourth category. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the datas predictive ability in determining the occurrence of a redetachment caused by postoperative PVR. Linear regression analysis was used to assess the datas predictive value in determining postoperative visual acuity. Using the analysis, we present a mathematical model to quantify the risk of development of PVR-associated redetachment in relation to growth factor levels, as previously described.13
| Results |
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Median subretinal TGF-ß2 levels were approximately two times lower in patients with postoperative PVR, compared with those without. The TGF-ß2 levels of the PVR-positive group were close to the vitreous levels observed in patients with macular hole and pucker (Table 2 , Fig. 1 ). The levels represent the sum of both biologically active and latent TGF-ß2, because samples were acidified before the assay, a treatment that activates latent TGF-ß. To determine the proportion of latent TGF-ß2, two samples were run with and without prior acidification. One sample displayed undetectable levels of active TGF-ß2 (after 3.5 dilution). The other sample measured 0.4 ng/mL active TGF-ß2, whereas acid activation revealed 9.6 ng/mL of total TGF-ß activity. Thus, 96% of TGF-ß2 in that sample was latent.
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As expected, the postoperative and net visual acuities of the PVR-negative group was significantly better than those of the PVR-positive group at final follow-up (P < 0.002). The logMAR acuity before operation was not significantly different between the two patient groups (P = 0.095). However, throughout the groups, it correlated moderately but significantly with final and net visual outcome (P < 0.001; r = 0.5 and r = 0.7, respectively). Of all other clinical variables, only the size of detachment correlated with final and net visual outcome but with a low correlation (r < 0.3, P = 0.002). There was no correlation between any of the biochemical factors and the preoperative, postoperative, and net logMAR acuities.
Based on our inclusion criteria, TGF-ß2, total protein level, preoperative logMAR visual acuity, and size of detachment were selected for multivariate regression analysis. With logistic regression analysis we found that low TGF-ß2 content was the exclusive predictor of the occurrence of PVR (P = 0.01), whereas linear regression showed that only the preoperative logMAR acuity, not growth factor or protein concentration, was indicative of final visual outcome (P < 0.001). Based on estimated coefficients, the following logistic regression equation was determined to calculate the changes in risk of a redetachment caused by PVR in relation to quantitative changes in TGF-ß2 level. The estimated probability of development of PVR = 1/(1 + e0.246+0.233(TGF-ß2).
In the equation, TGF-ß2 is measured in units of 1 ng/mL. We found that for each nanogram per milliliter increase in TGF-ß2 content the probability of development of PVR decreased, with an odds ratio of 0.8 (P = 0.01).
| Discussion |
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The present study represents levels of total TGF-ß2 activity (active plus latent). In one exemplary sample, the majority (96%) was latent. Similar results have been found by Connor et al.,2 in which the majority (87%) of vitreous TGF-ß was latent. Of importance, the authors did not find any association between latency and PVR state, and later studies report only on TGF-ß2 activity after acid activation.13 20 21 Therefore, in our studies, we also focused on total TGF-ß2 levels.
TGF-ß1 has been established as an important mitogen, and it has been shown to be profibrotic, in that it stimulates matrix synthesis in many cell types.22 These characteristics and its expression in epiretinal membranes10 11 make the protein a candidate player in PVR pathogenesis. Next to TGF-ß1, TGF-ß2 has been detected in epiretinal membranes,10 12 indicating that eventual PVR may depend on the balance between the two isoforms. TGF-ß2 accounts for most TGF-ß activity in vitreous (84%100%), whereas only 10% to 21% is from TGF-ß1.2 In addition, in a study on retinal detachments in cat eyes, TGF-ß2 levels increased in the vitreous, whereas TGF-ß1 levels remained undetectable.23 These studies indicate that TGF-ß2, rather than TGF-ß1, plays a central regulatory role at the vitreoretinal interface.
In primary RPE cultures, TGF-ß2 can act as a negative regulator of cell proliferation,12 24 25 whereas in passaged cells it was a more potent stimulator of matrix synthesis.25 The negative effect on RPE cell proliferation coincided with cell death and DNA fragmentation, suggesting a mediating role in apoptosis.12 The TGF-ß2 levels causing apoptosis were within the range of the subretinal levels of our study. In a recent investigation, apoptosis markers were increased in the vitreous of eyes with a retinal detachment, with or without PVR, compared with the control.21 Of note, one of the markers correlated with TGF-ß2 levels. Taking these and our data into consideration, we propose that the PVR-affected patients may lack a form of TGF-ß2mediated protection that controls RPE cell proliferation. We further suggest that in the early events after retinal detachment, high TGF-ß2 levels may suppress PVR pathogenesis by stimulating apoptosis and/or inhibiting proliferation of uncontrolled RPE cells. Further investigations are necessary to unravel the exact mechanism and to establish the source of TGF-ß2 at the vitreoretinal interface. For that matter, RPE cells, glial cells, microglial cells, fibroblasts, and macrophages26 27 28 have been shown to express both TGF-ß and TGF-ß receptors.10 11 23 29 Moreover, an autocrine suicidal feedback mechanism of the RPE cell has been suggested.12
With regard to total protein levels, the results from subretinal fluids also deviate from earlier vitreous studies. For instance, high total protein levels in vitreous have been associated with PVR,13 30 31 whereas in our study decreased levels were found. That and the strong correlation with TGF-ß2 levels indicate that other proteins may be involved in RPE suppression as well. In any case, in the early events, HGF may not be among the candidates, because its levels were PVR independent. In contrast, overall subretinal HGF levels in both patient groups were higher than in control vitreous of eyes without detachment, consistent with earlier findings.6 Also, in a recent paper, Jin et al.32 reported that HGF overexpression induced retinal detachment in rabbit eyes followed by subretinal proliferation of RPE cells. These findings and our data indicate that HGF elevation is primarily associated with retinal detachment and, to a lesser extent, with PVR.
Our study did not show that potential risk factors such as age and level of inflammation are involved in the development of PVR or that they correlate with TGF-ß2 concentrations, except for duration and size of detachment and preoperative PVR stage, although these variables correlated only moderately with TGF-ß2 concentration. Another determinant may be the degree of retinal hypoxia that is probably present because of the detachment. This, however, cannot be measured clinically, and therefore we do not know whether retinal hypoxia is a contributing risk factor.
In summary, our findings imply that TGF-ß2 is an important suppressor of the events that lead to PVR. Furthermore, low subretinal TGF-ß2 levels were predictive of development of PVR and may therefore be used as a clinical biomarker for this complication. Our analysis showed that for each nanogram increase in subretinal TGF-ß2 level, the odds of development of a redetachment caused by postoperative PVR were decreased 0.8 times. We suggest that in PVR-affected eyes, TGF-ß2 suppression of the formation of fibrotic membranes is absent. This implies that recent views on therapeutic strategies need major adjustment. Rather than scavenging the factor from the injured site, improved outcome of retinal detachment surgery may be achieved by application of TGF-ß2 in those patients at risk. Pharmacologic treatment at the time of surgery still presents a practical problem, because patient classification based on immunoassay measurements takes longer than the time needed for surgery.
| Acknowledgements |
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| Footnotes |
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Disclosure: S.C. Dieudonné, None; E.C. La Heij, None; R. Diederen, None; A.G.H. Kessels, None; A.T.A. Liem, None; A. Kijlstra, None; F. Hendrikse, None
The publication costs of this article were defrayed in part by page charge payment. This article must therefore be marked "advertisement" in accordance with 18 U.S.C.
1734 solely to indicate this fact.
Corresponding author: Suzanne C. Dieudonné, Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Maastricht, P. O. Box 5800, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands; sdie{at}soog.azm.nl.
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