Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins 4 and 5 Are Involved in the Pathogenesis of Retinal Vascular Diseases in Different Manners

Abstract

This study reports on the pathological significance of the vitreous fatty acid-binding protein (Vt-FABP) 4 and 5, and vascular endothelial growth factor A (Vt-VEGFA) in patients with retinal vascular diseases (RVDs) including proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and retinal vein occlusion (RVO). Subjects with PDR (n = 20), RVO (n = 10), and controls (epiretinal membrane, n = 18) who had undergone vitrectomies were enrolled in this study. The levels of Vt-FABP4, Vt-FABP5, and Vt-VEGFA were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Retinal circulation levels were measured by a laser-speckle flow analyzer (LSFA) and other relevant data were collected. The Vt-FABP5 levels were significantly (p p = 0.031), respectively. However, the elevations in the Vt-FABP4 and Vt-VEGFA levels were more evident in the PDR group (p < 0.05) and these factors were correlated positively with Log fasting glucose and negatively with some of the LSFA retinal circulation indexes. Multivariable regression analyses indicated that the LSFA blood flows of the optic disc at baseline was an independent effector with Log Vt-FABP5 other than several possible factors including age, gender, Log triglycerides, Log Vt-FABP4 and Log Vt-VEGFA. These current findings suggest that Vt-FABP5 is involved in the pathogenesis of RVD in a manner that is different from that for Vt-FABP4 and Vt-VEGFA, presumably by regulating retinal circulation.

Keywords

• fatty acid-binding protein 5 (FABP5)
• fatty-binding protein 4 (FABP4)
• vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA)
• retinal vascular disease (RVD)
• proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR)
• retinal vein occlusion (RVO)