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Updated: Jun 14, 2026
Efficient Dissection and Culture of Primary Mouse Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells
Published on: February 10, 2021
Oxidative Stress and Complement Activation in Aqueous Cells and Vitreous from Patient with Vitreoretinal Diseases:
Lucia Dinice1, Pamela Cosimi2, Graziana Esposito1
1Research and Development Laboratory for Biochemical, Molecular and Cellular Applications in Ophthalmological Science, IRCCS-Fondazione Bietti, 00184 Rome, Italy.
Background:
Epiretinal membrane (ERM) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) belong to the group of vitreoretinal diseases, characterized by impairments at both the retina and the vitreous. The non-diabetic and diabetic forms of ERM (no-dERM and dERM) as well as the PDR are caused by microvascular disorder, which frequently occurs in association with inflammation and oxidative stress. To better characterize no-dERM, dERM, and PDR at the biomolecular level, we compared the expression of inflammatory, oxidative, lipidic peroxidation products, and complement receptors.
Methods:
Twenty-seven ocular fluids from patients who underwent phaco-vitrectomy were categorized as no-dERM (9, 4M/5F; 70.4 ± 6.4), dERM (6, 3M/3F; 73.2 ± 4.9), and PDR (6, 5M/1F; 63.7 ± 7.4). Six cataracts (CTR; 3M/3F; 77.7 ± 9.0) were collected for internal control of aqueous cells.
Results:
In aqueous cells, p65NFkB, iNOS, Nox1/Nox4, and Nrf2 were significantly upregulated, and Keap1 was downregulated in dERM compared with PDR and no-dERM. In aqueous cells, a significant upregulation for C3aR1mRNA, C5aR1mRNA, and CFHmRNA were observed in dERM. In vitreous, C3a, C5b9, and MDA levels were significantly increased in dERM compared with PDR and no-dERM.
Conclusions:
Inflammatory and ROS products, as well as C3aR1/C5aR1 and soluble MDA, appear of great interest, as their expression in aqueous and vitreous might have potential prognostic and therapeutic values.
