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PURPOSE: Nesfatin-1 is produced in various tissues of the body including the hypothalamus. Neuroprotective properties of the neuropeptide hormone Nesfatin-1 were recently described. The aim of the study was to analyze the molecule Nesfatin-1 as a possible biomarker in POAG with neuroprotective properties pointing out the retinal-hypothalamic axis as target site in POAG and to obtain a molecular signature of cytokines in POAG as neuroinflammatory processes are a key factor of glaucoma development. METHODS: In this study, n=35 patients with moderate and advanced POAG (mean age 65.0y, IOP 13.9±3.0mmHg) and n=35 healthy controls (mean age 51.6y, IOP 14.3±2.7mmHg) were included. Clinical parameters including IOP, cup to disc ratio (CDR), glaucoma medication and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFL) were recorded. Plasma was collected for NUCB2/nesfatin-1 measurement using a Nesfatin-1 ELISA and for detection of 13 inflammatory cytokines using a multiplex bead-based immunoassay (MagPix). Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to adjust for confounding factors. RESULTS: Sex-independent or sex-dependent variables showed no significant differences in the Nesfatin-1 level (p>0.05). As a trend, an increase in NUCB2/nesfatin-1 in male glaucoma patients was found. Increased concentrations of 11 cytokines (GM-CSF, Interferon-γ, Interleukin-1β, IL-2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 12 and TNF-α) were detected in POAG. The female glaucoma patients demonstrated elevated cytokine concentrations compared to male patients. NUCB2/nesfatin-1 showed a significant correlation to IL-2 and IL-13 levels in POAG. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed no difference in NUCB2/nesfatin-1 level between POAG and healthy controls after adjusting for sex and age (all p>0.05). CONCLUSION: As a trend, male POAG patients showed increased plasma NUCB2/nesfatin-1 levels. We further found inflammation as contributing factor to the pathogenesis of glaucoma, with a greater inflammatory response in women.
Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.
Full article3.10 Immunobiology (Part of: 3 Laboratory methods)
11.8 Neuroprotection (Part of: 11 Medical treatment)
3.7 Biochemistry (Part of: 3 Laboratory methods)
9.4.15 Glaucoma in relation to systemic disease (Part of: 9 Clinical forms of glaucomas > 9.4 Glaucomas associated with other ocular and systemic disorders)