ESCRS - PE012 - Role Of Dna Methylation In Persistent Diabetic Macular Edema

Role Of Dna Methylation In Persistent Diabetic Macular Edema

Published 2022 - 40th Congress of the ESCRS

Reference: PE012 | Type: ESONT - Abstract | DOI: 10.82333/vse0-2p17

Authors: Pedro Camacho* 1 , Bruno Pereira 2 , Edna Ribeiro 3 , Teresa Varandas 4 , Jose Henriques 5 , João Nascimento 5 , Marco Dutra-Medeiros 6 , Carina Silva 3 , Mariana Delgadinho 3 , Ketlyn Oliveira 3 , Miguel Brito 3

1Health and Technology Research Center,Lisbon,Portugal;Ophthalmology Institute Dr. Gama Pinto, Lisbon,Lisbon,Portugal;Nova Medical School, Lisbon,Lisbon,Portugal, 2Health and Technology Research Center,Lisbon,Portugal;Nova Medical School, Lisbon,Lisbon,Portugal, 3Health and Technology Research Center,Lisbon,Portugal, 4APDP – Diabetes Portugal. Lisbon,Lisbon,Portugal;Nova Medical School, Lisbon,Lisbon,Portugal, 5Retina Institute of Lisbon, Lisbon,Lisbon,Portugal, 6Retina Institute of Lisbon, Lisbon,Lisbon,Portugal;Nova Medical School, Lisbon,Lisbon,Portugal;Central Lisbon Hospital Center, Lisbon,Lisbon,Portugal

Purpose

Despite the value of chronic and persistent hyperglycemia in ocular manifestations, they are insufficient to explain the variability of disease progression. We aim to investigate the role of DNA methyltransferase expression (DNMT1,DNMT3a, DNMT3b) in persistent diabetic macular edema.

Setting/Venue

H&TRC- Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL, Retina Institute of Lisbon, Lisbon

Methods

This cross-sectional study recruited 27 participants (7 cases persistent DME, 9 cases with good DME response, and 11 controls.) Only cases with a complete ophthalmological examination, with best corrected visual acuity assessed by an ETDRS chart, ultra-widefield Mono Color Fundus, graded according to the ETDRS severity level, and SD-OCT were used for this study. Age, DM duration, and hemoglobin A1C, were also obtained for each participant from their patient records. RNA extraction and DNA methyltransferase assessment were done by rtPCR.

Results

A total of 27 eyes from 27 patients (55% women) aged 59–91 years were studied. Best corrected visual acuity (p<0.001), central foveal thickness (p=0.001) and hemoglobin A1C (p=0.003) showed significant differences across all groups. Relative expression for the DNA methyltransferase genes, namely DNMT1, DNMT3a and DNMT3b were found across all groups. DNMT1 expression was increased in persistent DME group and DNMT3b was less decreased compared to good-responders group.

Conclusions

Differences in the DNA methyltransferase expression (DNMT1,DNMT3a,DNMT3b) were related with the difference’s therapeutic responses. This epigenetic approach could help to characterize  patients with more favorable therapeutic response and help for new therapeutic approaches (inhibitors of DNMTs)