LAUSR

PURPOSE Diabetic retinopathy (DR) has become a major cause of blindness with increased prevalence of diabetic mellitus. Carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule-1 (CEACAM1) plays a part in pathological neovascularization. This study aimed to investigate the role of CEACAM1 in the progression of DR. METHODS Aqueous and vitreous samples were collected from proliferative or non-proliferative DR and the control group. Multiplex fluorescent bead-based immunoassays were used to detect the levels of Cytokines. Expression of CEACAM1, VEGF, VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2) and hypoxia-induced factor-1α (HIF-1α) were detected in human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRECs). RESULTS CEACAM1 and VEGF levels were significantly upregulated in PDR group and positively correlated with PDR progression. Expression CEACAM1 and VEGFR2 were increased in HRECs under hypoxic conditions. The HIF-1α/VEGFA/VEGFR2 pathway was blocked by CEACAM1 siRNA in vitro. CONCLUSIONS CEACAM1 might play a role in the pathology of PDR. CEACAM1 might be a therapeutic target for retinal neovasculariztion.