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Updated: Apr 20, 2026
Characterization of a Novel Human Organotypic Retinal Culture Technique
Published on: June 9, 2021
Epiretinal membrane inflammatory cell density might reflect the activity of proliferative diabetic retinopathy
Mojca Urbančič1, Špela Štunf1, Aleksandra Milutinović Živin2
1Eye Hospital, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Purpose:
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) has features of chronic low-grade inflammation. The purpose of our study was to investigate whether the presence of inflammatory cells in fibrovascular membranes (FVMs) from patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) is associated with the activity of PDR and visual acuity improvement after vitreoretinal surgery.
Methods:
Forty FVMs from 40 patients with PDR were obtained during vitrectomy, prepared by using the agar sandwich method, and examined using light microscope and immunohistochemistry methods to define the presence and density of inflammatory cells: CD45+ cells (leukocytes), CD4+ cells (T helper lymphocytes), CD8+ cells (T cytotoxic lymphocytes), CD19+ cells (B lymphocytes), and CD14+ cells (monocytes/macrophages). For each FVM, the inflammatory cell density defined as numerical areal density was calculated. The number of vessels was defined as the volume density of vessels.
Results:
Among 40 patients with PDR, 33 patients had active PDR and 7 quiescent PDR. Significant differences in cell densities for CD4+, CD8+, and CD19+ cells were observed between patients with active and quiescent PDR. B lymphocytes were present in membranes of active PDR only. No correlation was observed between numerical areal density of inflammatory cells and the volume density of vessels. No association was found between visual acuity improvement after surgery and cell densities.
Conclusions:
Lymphocyte infiltration of FVMs might be associated with the activity of retinopathy but not with visual acuity improvement after surgery.
Insights
Inflammatory cells, particularly lymphocytes, in fibrovascular membranes are linked to active proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). However, their presence does not predict visual acuity improvement after surgery for PDR.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Immunology
- Diabetic Retinopathy Research
Background:
- Diabetic retinopathy (DR) exhibits chronic low-grade inflammation.
- Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) involves fibrovascular membranes (FVMs).
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if inflammatory cells in PDR fibrovascular membranes correlate with PDR activity.
- To investigate the association between inflammatory cell presence and visual acuity improvement post-vitreoretinal surgery.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed 40 fibrovascular membranes from PDR patients using immunohistochemistry.
- Quantified densities of leukocytes (CD45+), T helper cells (CD4+), T cytotoxic cells (CD8+), B lymphocytes (CD19+), and monocytes/macrophages (CD14+).
Main Results:
- Significant differences in CD4+, CD8+, and CD19+ cell densities were found between active and quiescent PDR.
- B lymphocytes were exclusively detected in active PDR membranes.
- No correlation was found between inflammatory cell density and vessel density, nor with post-surgery visual acuity improvement.
Conclusions:
- Lymphocyte infiltration in fibrovascular membranes may indicate PDR activity.
- Inflammatory cell presence in FVMs is not associated with visual outcome after vitreoretinal surgery.
