Table of Contents - WOC 2012

PO-IMM-13
Identification of Autoantibodies against TRPM1 in Patients with
Paraneoplastic Retinopathy Associated with ON Bipolar Cell
Dysfunction
Kondo Mineo (1) , Sanuki Rikako (2) , Ueno Shinji (1) , Terasaki Hiroko (1) , Furukawa
Takahisa (2)
1. Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine
2. Osaka Bioscience Institute
Purpose: Paraneoplastic retinopathy (PR), including cancer-associated
retinopathy (CAR) and melanoma-associated retinopathy (MAR), is a
progressive retinal disease caused by antibodies generated against neoplasms
not associated with the eye. The purpose of the current study is to investigate
whether there are autoantibodies against transient receptor potential cation
channel, subfamily M, member 1 (TRPM1) in the sera of PR patients exhibiting
ON bipolar cell dysfunction.
Methods: We performed detailed electroretinographic (ERG) analyses and
Western blot analysis in one lung CAR and 26 MAR patients, who were thought
to have ON-bipolar cell dysfunction.
Results: We identified autoantibodies against TRPM1 in the serum of a patient
with lung CAR, and two of 26 MAR patients. The ERGs of these patients
showed a severely reduced ON response with normal OFF response,
indicating that the defect is in the signal transmission between photoreceptors
and ON bipolar cells.
Conclusion: Our study reveals TRPM1 to be one of the autoantigens targeted
by autoantibodies in at least some patients with CAR or MAR associated with
retinal ON bipolar cell dysfunction.
PO-IMM-14
Evaluation of systemic biomarkers in diabetic macular edema and
proliferative diabetic retinopathy and relation to outcome after
ranibizumab therapy
Voegeler Jessica (1,2) , Pohl Karin (2) , Faerber Lothar (1,2) , Lang Gabriele E. (3) ,
Straub Rainer H. (1)
1. University of Regensburg
2. Novartis Pharma GmbH
3. University of Ulm
Objective & Purpose: Elevated blood-glucose levels in diabetes mellitus (DM)
boost the development of secondary diseases complications of the eye such
as diabetic macular edema (DME) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).
In DM diverse biomechanisms and processes as well as cytokine levels are
altered. Therefore several cytokine- and apolipoprotein-levels (i.e. biomarkers)
are measured to assess correlation of biomarkers with baseline characteristics
and with outcome.
Methods: In a phase III clinical trial patients with visual impairment due to DME
were randomized 2:1 for treatment of ranibizumab in combination with laser
photocoagulation or laser photocoagulation alone up to 12 month. At baseline
visits and at defined study time points serum and plasma samples were taken,
aliquoted and stored at -18°C until investigation. Levels of IL-6, MCP-1, ICAM-
1, VCAM-1, IL-8, IL-10, IL 17a, VEGF, Apo Al, Apo All, Apo Cll, Apo Clll, Apo E
and Apo B100 are determined by ELISA or Luminex.
Results: Approximately 125 patients were randomized with LPLV early July
2011.
Conclusion: The assessment evaluates the correlation between biomarkers
and central retinal thickness at baseline and as main outcome parameter.
WOC2012 Abstract Book
PO-IMM-15
Case Report: Resistant Corneal Ulcer diagnosed by Histopathology
as Acanthamoeba Keratitis.
Al Mansoori Noura (1) , Al Obthani Murad (1) , Dachiw Christine (1) , Hendawy
Bassem (1) , Al Mosabi Saleh (1)
1. Sheikh Khalifa Medical City
Purpose and
Methods: Case report of Acanthamoeba Keratitis in middle-aged farmer whose
corneal scraping slides and cultures where negative for 3 times. However,
histopathology of corneal biopsy showed the organism. Case Report: A 48
years old male farmer presented to the first hospital with history of exposure
to water, soil and grass. Initial scraping, showed hyphae in fungal slides but
cultures were negative. Treated for 3 weeks as fungal ulcer with systemic
Voricanazole, natamycin, and Voricanazole drops. Patient didn›t respond to
therapy and infiltrate size increased and referred to our service for further
management. Visual acuity on presentation was Hand Motion. Re-culture
was negative and patient deteriorated more over one week. Corneal biopsy
cultures where negative and Histopathology showed the organism. The
patient was treated with Porpamidine and chlorhexadine drops. Infiltrate size
decreased and hypopyon disappeared and visual acuity improved over one
week to counting finger.
Conclusion: This case emphasizes the importance of considering
acanthamoeba species in the differential diagnosis of keratitis. In late stage,
Acanthamoeba cysts present in deep stroma and might not be detect by
scraping. Histopathological evaluation of corneal biopsy was crucial in
diagnosing the case reported.
PO-IMM-16
Acanthamoeba Infections Initiate Toll-Like Receptor 4 Expression
and Inflammatory Responses in the Corneal Epithelium
Alizadeh Hassan (1) , LI Haochuan (2) , Neelam Sudha (1)
1. Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, North Texas Eye Research Institute
2. Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical
Center
Purpose: To determine if Toll-like receptors (TLRs) on corneal epithelial cells
are activated by Acanthamoeba,
Methods: The expression of mRNA for TLR1, TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, and TLR9 in
normal and A. castellanii infected human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells were
examined by RT-PCR. Secretion of IL-8 IL-6, and MIP-2 was examined by
ELISA. Chinese hamsters were infected with pathogenic A. castellanii and
non-pathogenic A. castellanii neff strains of Acanthamoeba trophozoites. The
expression of TLR1s genes was examined by RT-PCR.
Results: HCE cells constitutively expressed TLRs mRNA, and A. castellanii
upregulated TLR2 and TLR4 transcription. Both IL-6 and IL-8 mRNA expression
was upregulated in HCE cells exposed to A. castellanii trophozoites. A.
castellanii trophozoites and LPS induced significant IL-8 production by HCE
cells as measured by ELISA. Clinical isolates of Acanthamoeba but not soil
isolates activate TLR4 expression in the Chinese hamster corneas, while TLR2
expression was unchanaged..Clinical isolate induced significant (P