Objective To investigate the expression and significance of nuclear factor E2 related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), Notch1 and hairy and enhancer of split homolog 1 (Hes-1) in vitreous and serum of patients with diabetic retinopathy.

Methods Eighty-four patients with diabetic retinopathy treated with vitrectomy were collected. Among them, 43 patients with diabetes retinopathy were served as the observation group, and 41 patients with simple rhegmatogenous retinal detachment were served as the control group. The expression levels of Nrf2, HO-1, Notch1, Hes-1 in the vitreous and serum between two groups were compared. Pearson method was used to analyze the correlation between the levels of Nrf2, HO-1, Notch1 and Hes-1 and clinical indicators.

Results Compared with the control group, the serum FBG, HbA1c, TC, TG and MDA in the observation group were significantly overexpressed (P < 0.01), the SOD was obviously underexpressed (P < 0.01). The levels of Nrf2, HO-1, Notch1, Hes-1 in the serum and vitreous of the observation group were obviously lower than those of control group (P < 0.01). The results of correlation analysis showed that the levels of Nrf2, HO-1, Notch1, Hes-1 were significantly negatively correlated with FBG, HbA1c, TC, TG, and MDA (P < 0.01), and positively correlated with SOD level (P < 0.01).

Conclusions The expression of Nrf2, HO-1, Notch1, Hes-1 in vitreous and serum of patients with diabetesic retinopathy is obviously lower, and their expression is significantly correlated with clinical indicators such as FBG, HbA1c, TC, TG, MDA, SOD.