Changes in Circulating Acylated Ghrelin and Neutrophil Elastase in Diabetic Retinopathy
Maria Consiglia Trotta,
Carlo Gesualdo,
Marina Russo,
Caterina Claudia Lepre,
Francesco Petrillo,
Maria Giovanna Vastarella,
Maddalena Nicoletti,
Francesca Simonelli,
Anca Hermenean,
Michele D’Amico,
Settimio Rossi
Affiliations
Maria Consiglia Trotta
Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
Carlo Gesualdo
Multidisciplinary Department of Medical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
Marina Russo
PhD Course in National Interest in Public Administration and Innovation for Disability and Social Inclusion, Department of Mental, Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
Caterina Claudia Lepre
Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
Francesco Petrillo
Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
Maria Giovanna Vastarella
PhD Course in Translational Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
Maddalena Nicoletti
Multidisciplinary Department of Medical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
Francesca Simonelli
Multidisciplinary Department of Medical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
Anca Hermenean
“Aurel Ardelean” Institute of Life Sciences, Vasile Goldis Western University of Arad, 310144 Arad, Romania
Michele D’Amico
Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
Settimio Rossi
Multidisciplinary Department of Medical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
Background and Objectives: The role and the levels of ghrelin in diabetes-induced retinal damage have not yet been explored. The present study aimed to measure the serum levels of total ghrelin (TG), and its acylated (AG) and des-acylated (DAG) forms in patients with the two stages of diabetic retinopathy (DR), non-proliferative (NPDR) and proliferative (PDR). Moreover, the correlation between serum ghrelin and neutrophil elastase (NE) levels was investigated. Materials and Methods: The serum markers were determined via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays in 12 non-diabetic subjects (CTRL), 15 diabetic patients without DR (Diabetic), 15 patients with NPDR, and 15 patients with PDR. Results: TG and AG serum levels were significantly decreased in Diabetic (respectively, p p p p p p p p p p Conclusions: The two DR stages were characterized by decreased AG and increased NE levels. In particular, serum AG levels were lower in PDR compared to NPDR patients, and serum NE levels were higher in the PDR vs. the NPDR group. Together with the greater presence of retinal abnormalities, this could underline a distinctive role of AG in PDR compared to NPDR.
