Retinal heparanase expression in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Abstract Objective: Heparanase, an endoglycosidase, exhibits strong proangiogenic capacity that can induce vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in tumour angiogenesis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate heparanase expression and its relationship with VEGF in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats' retinas. Design: Experimental study. Participants: STZ-induced rats and non-diabetic control rats. Methods: Heparanase expression was initially evaluated in cultured human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRECs) under high-glucose conditions by Western blot. Diabetes was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by STZ intraperitoneal injection. Retinal heparanase expression was assayed in rats by immunohistochemistry. Heparanase inhibitor (phosphomannopentaose sulfate) was administrated to high-glucose-treated HRECs and diabetic rats. VEGF levels were evaluated in HRECs and retinas using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Heparanase expression was increased in HRECs under high-glucose conditions compared with controls ( p p p Conclusions: Heparanase expression was upregulated and associated with an increase of VEGF expression in STZ-induced diabetic rat retinas. The data suggest that heparanase may be involved in the development of diabetic retinopathy and represents a possible novel target for therapeutic intervention.