Title
PROTEOMICS OF PATIENTS WITH NEOVASCULAR AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION RESISTANT TO ANTI-VEGF.
Introduction
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is among the world's leading causes of blindness. The neovascular form presents deterioration of visual acuity and persistence of the disease in a quarter of the treated patients. Thus, there is a need for studies that elucidate the molecular pathways that act in choroidal neoangiogenesis beyond the vascular and endothelial growth factor (VEGF).
Methods
The research is a cross-sectional study of a translational nature to assess the aqueous humor protein profiles of 25 patients divided into three groups: group 1 formed by patients with neovascular AMD treatment naive (called naive), who are accompanying posterori demonstrated good response to anti-VEGF injections; group 2 formed by patients with neovascular AMD resistant to anti-VEGF and group 3 formed by control patients (with cataracts), without systemic diseases or signs of retinopathy. We used mass spectrometry (label-freeLC-MS / MS) to make the proteomic characterization of the groups.
Results
A total of 2,336 proteins were identified, of which 185 were distinctly regulated and allowed differentiation of clinical conditions. Among these, thirty-nine proteins, including some new ones, were functionally analyzed as important effectors of lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, complement system and / or inflammatory pathways and angiogenesis.
Discussion
Thus, this study consolidates the understanding about the participation of other pathways in the pathophysiology of macular neovascularization and potential possible biomarkers, in addition to the known vascular and endothelial growth factor (VEGF).
Keywords
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), resistance, choroidal neoangiogenesis, mass spectrometry, biomarkers.
Area
CLINICAL CASE
Authors
BRUNO NOBRE LINS CORONADO, FELIPE BRUNO SANTOS DA CUNHA, RAPHAELA MENEZES DE OLIVEIRA, OTÁVIO TOLEDO DE NÓBREGA, MARCOS PEREIRA DE ÁVILA, ALINE MARIA ARAÚJO MARTINS