Asymmetric Dimethylarginine (ADMA) in the Aqueous Humor of Diabetic Patients

Endocrine Journal

Nobuhiko SAITO³  Motohiko SUGAI²  Akio OHTA²  Satoki UENO¹  Minoru NAKANISHI¹  Yasushi TANAKA²  Takehiro KAWATA²  Yuji OGATA¹ 

[1] Department of Ophthalmology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine;Department of Internal Medicine, Metabolism and Endocrinology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine;Department of Internal Medicine, Mita Hospital of International University of Health and Welfare

关键词: Asymmetric dimethylarginine;    Oxidative stress;    Nitric oxide;    Diabetic retinopathy;    Aqueous humor;   

DOI  :  10.1507/endocrj.K06-140

学科分类：内分泌与代谢学

来源: Japan Endocrine Society

【 摘 要 】

References(17)Cited-By(13)Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an endogenous NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor whose production is enhanced by oxidative stress. Recent studies have shown that ADMA may also directly stimulate the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by up-regulation of the renin-angiotensin system independently of NOS inhibition. In this study, to investigate the clinical association of ADMA with diabetic retinopathy, we evaluated the levels of ADMA and NO oxides (NO2- and NO3-) in serum and aqueous humor obtained during cataract surgery from non-diabetic subjects (n = 21) and diabetic patients (n = 17). We found that the ADMA existed in aqueous humor and its level was similar to that in serum. The ADMA levels in both serum and aqueous humor were higher in diabetic patients, especially those with severe retinopathy, than in the non-diabetic group (serum ADMA: 0.67 ± 0.26 vs. 0.53 ± 0.08 μmol/l, p<0.05; aqueous humor ADMA: 0.55 ± 0.20 vs. 0.32 ± 0.16 μmol/l, p<0.05). Also, the aqueous humor level of ADMA, but not the serum level, was correlated with HbA1c on analysis of all the patients (R = 0.33, p<0.05 by simple regression analysis). However, a correlation between the ADMA levels in serum and aqueous humor was not observed in either the non-diabetic group or the diabetic group. Furthermore, serum and aqueous humor levels of NOx did not differ between the two groups, and no correlation with ADMA levels was observed in either group. These results suggest that ROS production may be enhanced in the eyes of diabetics. Since ADMA may act to potentiate ROS production independently of its inhibition of NOS, further investigation is required to clarify the possible contribution of ADMA to the development or progression of retinopathy.

【 授权许可】

Unknown