Age-related macular degene
ration (AMD) can lead to irreversible cent
ral vision loss in the elderly. Although large number of growth factor pathways, including the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), has been implicated in the pathogenesis of AMD, no study has directly assessed the whole proteomic composition in the aqueous humor (AH) among AMD patients. The AH contains proteins secreted from the anterior segment tissue, and these proteins may play an important role in the pathogenesis of AMD. Thus, comparisons between the AH proteomic profiles of AMD patients and non-AMD controls may lead to the verification of novel pathogenic proteins useful as potential clinical biomarkers. In this study, we used discovery-based proteomics and Multiple Reaction Monitoring Mass Spectrometry (MRM-MS) to a
nalyze AH from AMD patients and AH from controls who underwent cata
ract surgery. A total of 154 proteins with at least two unique peptides were identified in the AH. Of these 154 proteins identified by discovery-based proteomics, 10 AH proteins were novel identifications. The protein composition in the AH was different between AMD patients and non-AMD controls. Subsequently, a systematic MRM-MS assay was performed in seven highly abundant differentially expressed proteins from these groups. Differential expression of three proteins was observed in the AH of AMD patients compared with that of cata
ract controls (
p < 0.0312). Elucidation of the aqueous proteome will establish a foundation for protein function a
nalysis and identify differentially expressed markers associated with AMD. This study demonst
rates that integ
rated proteomic technologies can yield novel biomarkers to detect exudative AMD.
Keywords:
aqueous humor; ration&qsSearchArea=searchText">age-related macular degeneration; mass spectrometry; proteomics; multiple reaction monitoring