Abstract
The calcium-binding protein S100A4 is implicated in cancer cell invasion and metastasis, the stimulation of angiogenesis, the progression of fibrosis, and inflammatory disorders. We investigated the expression of S100A4 and correlated it with clinical disease activity as well as with the levels of osteopontin (OPN), soluble syndecan-1, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). To reinforce the findings at the functional level, we examined the expressions of S100A4 and OPN in the retinas of diabetic rats and in human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRMECs) following exposure to VEGF and the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α).
status: published