Apoptotic factors (Bcl-2 and Bax) and diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetes

The expression of apoptotic factors Bcl-2 and Bax were studied in the conjunctiva of diabetic patients with and without retinopathy. All patients underwent a complete ophthalmic examination including ocular fundus and retinal fluorescein angiography. The indirect immunoperoxidase method was performe...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of molecular histology 2010-04, Vol.41 (2-3), p.143-152
Main Authors: Khalfaoui, Taoufik, Basora, Nuria, Ouertani-Meddeb, Amel
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Apoptosis
Bax
Bcl-2
bcl-2-Associated X Protein - biosynthesis
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Biomedicine
Biopsy
Case-Control Studies
Cell Biology
conjunctiva
Conjunctiva - metabolism
Conjunctiva - pathology
Developmental Biology
diabetes
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - metabolism
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - pathology
Diabetic retinopathy (DR)
Diabetic Retinopathy - metabolism
Diabetic Retinopathy - pathology
Female
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
Life Sciences
Male
Middle Aged
Original Paper
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 - biosynthesis
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Summary:The expression of apoptotic factors Bcl-2 and Bax were studied in the conjunctiva of diabetic patients with and without retinopathy. All patients underwent a complete ophthalmic examination including ocular fundus and retinal fluorescein angiography. The indirect immunoperoxidase method was performed on 15 normal conjunctiva taken during cataract surgery (group 1), on 40 eyes of 40 patients with type 2 diabetes without diabetic retinopathy (group 2) and 13 eyes of 13 patients with diabetic retinopathy (group 3). In normal human conjunctiva, Bax showed positive expression in epithelial, vascular and stromal cells whereas Bcl-2 staining was negative. In the conjunctiva of diabetic patients without diabetic retinopathy, Bax was widely, and strongly, expressed in epithelial cells, vascular endothelial cells, fibroblasts and infiltrating cells such as macrophages. For patients with diabetic retinopathy, Bax was consistently strong to very strong. Bcl-2 protein expression became weak to negative for diabetic patients both with and without diabetic retinopathy. Immunoreactivity was not correlated between Bcl-2 and Bax in the conjunctiva of diabetic patients. Bax was always localized in tissues characterized by a high rate of apoptosis, whereas, Bcl-2 was absent. Our results suggest that diabetic human conjunctiva, with its inflammatory phenomena, is considered as a privileged target for programmed cell death.
ISSN:1567-2379
1567-2387
DOI:10.1007/s10735-010-9271-9