Retina-specific expression of PDGF-B versus PDGF-A: vascular versus nonvascular proliferative retinopathy

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) has been implicated in vascular proliferative retinopathies, such as diabetic retinopathy, and in nonvascular retinopathies, such as proliferative vitreoretinopathy. Traction retinal detachment is a central feature of both types of disease. Hemizygous rhodopsin promoter/PDGF-B (rho/PDGF-B) transgenic mice exhibit proliferation of vascular cells, glia, and retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cells, resulting in traction retinal detachment. Hemizygous rho/PDGF-A transgenic mice show mild proliferation of glial cells and no traction retinal detachments. This study was undertaken to determine whether higher levels of endogenously produced PDGF-A in the retinas of mice result in retinal detachment.

To achieve high-level expression of PDGF-A in the retina, homozygous rho/PDGF-A (rho/PDGF-AA) mice were generated. The phenotype of these mice was compared with that of homozygous rho/PDGF-B (rho/PDGF-BB) mice and double hemizygous rho/PDGF-B-rho/PDGF-A (rho/PDGF-AB) mice.

Rho/PDGF-BB and rho/PDGF-AB mice showed a phenotype similar to that previously described in rho/PDGF-B mice. There was extensive proliferation of glial and vascular cells, resulting in fibrovascular membranes that detached the retina. PDGF-AA mice showed extensive proliferation of glial cells and traction retinal detachment.

High retinal expression of PDGF-A results in extensive proliferation of glial cells and traction retinal detachment without vascular cell involvement, similar to proliferative vitreoretinopathy in humans. High retinal expression of PDGF-B results in traction retinal detachment from proliferation of both vascular and nonvascular cells, similar to diabetic retinopathy in humans.