Differences in aqueous humor protein profiles in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy before and after aflibercept treatment

Abstract

Abstract Purpose To investigate the changes in aqueous humor (AH) protein profiles before and after intravitreal aflibercept (IVA) treatment in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Methods 5 PDR patients provided 10 samples of AH before and after IVA treatment (pre-group vs. post-group). Proteins were identified using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Then, bioinformatics was employed to investigate the functional significance of differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) and hub proteins. Results A total of 16 DEPs were identified, consisting of 8 downregulated proteins and 8 upregulated proteins. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that the most significantly enriched biological process was “blood coagulation, intrinsic pathway.” The most significantly enriched signaling pathway was “complement and coagulation cascades.” HBB, HPX, VEGFA, and CA1 were identified as hub proteins for IVA treatment. Conclusions Together with the downregulation of the intravitreal vascular endothelial growth factor level, IVA may also change the AH protein composition in PDR patients, with DEPs involved in the blood coagulation, intrinsic pathway, complement, and coagulation cascades. IVA treatment may protect against PDR by regulating HBB, HPX, VEGFA, and CA1 expression.