EXPRESSION OF PEDF mRNA AND PROTEIN IN NORMAL MOUSE RETINA AND EXPERIMENTAL CHOROIDAL NEOVASCULARIZATION TISSUES

Objective To study the expression of pigment epithelium derived factor (PEDF) in normal mouse retina and experimental choroidal neovascularization (CNV) tissues. Methods CNV mouse models were induced by diode laser. The expression of PEDF mRNA and protein in normal mouse retina and CNV tissues were detected by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical study. Results In normal mouse retina, PEDF mRNA was observed in the ganglion cell layer, inner nuclear layer and RPE cell layer, and PEDF protein was observed mainly in the nerve fiber layer, ganglion cell layer, photoreceptor cell layer and RPE cell layer, and lower level expression of PEDF protein was also observed in the inner plexiform layer and outer plexiform layer. In CNV tissues, the expression of PEDF mRNA and protein was also observed. 3d and 1 week after photocoagulation, the expression level of PEDF was relatively lower, and increased following the development of CNV. The level was the highest 2 weeks after photocoagulation, then decreased at 3 weeks. Conclusion PEDF was expressed in different layers of retina and was obviously expressed in the CNV tissues induced by laser photocoagulation. These findings suggest that PEDF may participate and modulate the development of CNV.