Imbalance of the Nerve Growth Factor and Its Precursor as a Potential Biomarker for Diabetic Retinopathy

Figure 4

ProNGF/NGF ratio in vitreous correlated to proNGF/NGF ratio in serum. (a) In vitreous, the expression ratio of proNGF to NGF in individual diabetic participants was significantly higher than nondiabetic control participants ( = 4–10, ). (b) In serum expression ratio of proNGF to NGF in individual diabetic participants was also significantly higher than nondiabetic control participants ( = 6–11, ). (c) Deming linear regression of proNGF/NGF ratios in vitreous as a function of the ratio in serum of diabetic participants had a slope of and an intercept of . The linear correlation was significant with a Pearson coefficient of (, ).

(a)

(b)

(c)