Circulating antipericyte autoantibodies: a novel modifier of risk of progression of diabetic retinopathy?

Background: Antipericyte autoantibodies (APAAs) are present in high frequency among diabetic subjects with and without nonproliferative retinopathy. This study aimed to determine whether progression of retinopathy in type 2 diabetes was associated with the same medical risk factors in APAA-positive subjects as in APAA-negative subjects.

Methods: Type 2 diabetic patients with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy at baseline were followed prospectively for 2 years monitoring progression of retinopathy.

Albuminuria and hypertension are independently associated with circulating antipericyte autoantibodies in type 2 diabetic patients.

Aims: To determine whether albuminuria, hypertension, or HbA 1c are independently associated with antipericyte autoantibodies (APAAs) in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods: Two hundred ninety-nine subjects with different degrees of retinopathy according to the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study Scale participated in this study. Albuminuria was defined as an albumin/creatinine ratio above the normal cutoff limit, that is, 2.

Monoclonal antibody (3G5)-defined ganglioside: cell surface marker of corneal keratocytes.

Purpose: To evaluate the anti-ganglioside monoclonal antibody 3G5 as a marker of corneal keratocytes.

Methods: 3G5 expression on keratocytes was investigated by immunofluorescence microscopy. Studies were performed on frozen sections of normal human, bovine, porcine, rabbit, rat, and mouse corneas and on repairing rabbit cornea.