Soluble Vascular Adhesion Protein-1 Mediates Spermine Oxidation as Semicarbazide-Sensitive Amine Oxidase: Possible Role in Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy.

Purpose/Aim of the study: To explore the possible role of vascular adhesion protein-1 (VAP-1) via its enzymatic function as a semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO) in the pathogenesis of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). The levels of soluble VAP-1/SSAO and the unsaturated aldehyde acrolein (ACR)-conjugated protein, Nε-(3-formyl-3, 4-dehydropiperidino) lysine adduct (FDP-Lys), were measured in vitreous fluid samples of PDR and non-diabetic patients using ELISA. Recombinant human VAP-1/SSAO (rhVAP-1/SSAO) was incubated with spermine, with or without semicarbazide or RTU-1096 (a specific inhibitor for VAP-1/SSAO). Immunofluorescence assays were performed to assess the localization of VAP-1/SSAO and FDP-Lys in fibrovascular tissues from patients with PDR. The impact of ACR on cultured retinal capillary endothelial cells was assessed using a cell viability assay and total glutathione (GSH) measurements. The levels of sVAP-1/SSAO and FDP-Lys were elevated in the vitreous fluid of patients with PDR. Incubation of rhVAP-1 with spermine resulted in the generation of hydrogen peroxide and FDP-Lys and the production was inhibited by semicarbazide and RTU-1096. In fibrovascular tissues, FDP-Lys and VAP-1/SSAO were present in endothelial cells. ACR stimulation reduced GSH levels in the cultured endothelial cells in a dose-dependent manner and caused cellular toxicity. Our results indicate the pathological role of sVAP-1/SSAO to generate hydrogen peroxide and toxic aldehyde ACR, both of which are associated with oxidative stress, as a consequence of spermine oxidation in eyes with PDR.