Abstract: Objective To explore the correlation between serum levels of stress-inducing protein 2(Sestrin2)and NADPH oxidase 2(NOX2)and fundus lesions in patients with diabetic retinopathy(DR). Methods 139 patients with diabetes who visited our ophthalmic clinic. According to the clinical diagnosis of the patient's ophthalmology, the patients were grouped into the DR group and the non-DR group, and then according to the stage of the disease of the DR patients, the DR group was divided into the hyperplastic DR group and the non-hyperplastic DR group. Clinical data and serum Sestrin2 and NOX2 expression levels were analyzed. Pearson's correlation between the severity of fundus lesions and serum Sestrin2 and NOX2 expression levels was analyzed by Pearson; Multivariate logistic regression model was applied to analyze the factors influencing DR. Results The serum Sestrin2 content in the DR group ［(1.97±0.38)ng/mL］ was obviously lower than in the non-DR group ［(3.74±0.84)ng/mL), while the NOX2 content ［(11.38±1.59)ng/mL］ was much higher than that in the non-DR group ［(6.75±1.69)ng/mL］(P<0.05). The expression level of serum Sestrin2 in the non-proliferative DR group was obviously higher than in the proliferative DR group and decreased with the aggravation of the disease(P<0.05). The level of NOX2 expression in the non-proliferative DR group was obviously lower than in the proliferative DR group and increased with the aggravation of the disease(P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that high levels of Sestrin2 were a protective factor for DR, while high serum FPG and high NOX2 were risk factors for DR(P<0.05). Conclusion The expression level of Sestrin2 is low, the expression level of NOX2 is increased, and its changes are closely related to fundus lesions in patients with DR.

Key words: Diabetes, Retinopathy, Sestrin2, NADPH oxidase 2, Oxidative stress