Dataset Information

Integrated Proteomic Profiling of Aqueous Humor Reveals CDC42/RHOA-Mediated Pathogenic Mechanisms in nAMD and PDR

ABSTRACT: Neovascular AMD (nAMD) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) are major blinding retinal diseases characterized by pathological angiogenesis. Using data-independent acquisition (DIA) proteomics, we analyzed aqueous humor from nAMD, PDR, and cataract control patients. Among 3186 identified proteins, 877 (nAMD) and 1017 (PDR) differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were detected. Functional enrichment highlighted inflammatory and metabolic pathway dysregulation in both diseases. CDC42 and RHOA were consistently upregulated and implicated in cytoskeletal remodeling and angiogenesis. This study reveals shared molecular mechanisms in nAMD and PDR, proposing new targets for therapeutic intervention.

ORGANISM(S): Homo Sapiens

SUBMITTER: Chen Zhao

PROVIDER: PXD068217 | iProX | Tue Sep 09 00:00:00 BST 2025

REPOSITORIES: iProX

ACCESS DATA

Similar Datasets

Project description:PURPOSE: To investigate the circulatory microRNA (miRNA) profiles of aqueous, vitreous, and plasma in order to identify biomarkers in aqueous humor or plasma that are reflecting changes in vitreous of patients with diabetes. METHODS: Aqueous, vitreous and plasma samples were collected from a total of 27 patients - 11 controls (macular pucker or macular hole patients) and 16 patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) undergoing vitreoretinal surgery: DM-Type I with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) (DMI-PDR), DM Type II with PDR (DMII-PDR) and DM Type II with nonproliferative DR (DMII-NPDR). MiRNAs were isolated using Qiagen microRNeasy kit, quantified on BioAnalyzer, labeled with FlashTag kit, and profiled on Affymetrix GeneChip miRNA 3.0 microarrays. Data analysis was done using Expression Console (EC), Transcriptome Analysis Console (TAC), and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) software. RESULTS: Our comparison of circulatory miRNA population of aqueous and vitreous humor and plasma showed that out of total of 847 human miRNA probes on the Affymetrix GeneChip miRNA 3.0 we found common miRNAs for both aqueous and vitreous samples, as well as larger number of unique miRNA, dependent on the DM type and presence of retinopathy. Most of the dysregulated miRNAs in aqueous and vitreous of DM patients were upregulated, while in plasma, most of the DM-specific miRNAs were downregulated. Dysregulation of miRNAs in aqueous generally do not appear to be a good representative of the miRNA abundance in vitreous, or plasma, although we did identify a few candidates for common biomarkers: let-7b, miR-320b, miR-762 and miR-4488. Additionally, each of the DR subtypes showed a set of miRNA that is uniquely dysregulated in each fluid, for example in aqueous samples for DMII-NPDR it was miR-455-3p, for DMII-PDR was miR-296, and for DMI-PDR it was miR-3202. Pathway analysis identified TGF-beta and VEGF pathways as the common targets for miRNAs dysregulated in DR aqueous and vitreous. CONCLUSIONS: The comparative profiling of circulatory miRNAs in aqueous, vitreous, and plasma showed that a small number of circulatory miRNAs displayed differential presence in controls vs. diabetic retinopathy. A pattern is emerging of sets of miRNA that are common or uniquely dysregulated in the blood plasma or ocular fluids of DR subtypes, offering promise for the use of ocular fluids and plasma for identifying diagnostic and therapeutic targets.

Project description:Impaired drainage of aqueous humor through the trabecular meshwork (TM) culminating in increased intraocular pressure is a major risk factor for glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness worldwide. Regulation of aqueous humor drainage through the TM, however, is poorly understood. The role of RhoA GTPase-mediated contractile activity, cell adhesive interactions, and gene expression in regulation of aqueous humor outflow was investigated using adenoviral vector-driven expression of constitutively active RhoA (RhoAV14). Organ cultured anterior segments from porcine eyes expressing RhoAV14 exhibited significant reduction of aqueous humor outflow. Cultured TM cells expressing RhoAV14 revealed strong contractile cell morphology, increased actin stress fibers and focal adhesions, along with increased levels of phosphorylated myosin II, and collagen IV, fibronectin and laminin. cDNA microarray analysis of RNA extracted from RhoAV14 expressing human TM cells revealed a significant increase in the expression of genes encoding extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, cytokines, integrins, cytoskeletal proteins and signaling proteins. Conversely, various ECM proteins stimulated robust increases in phosphorylation of myosin II, paxillin and focal adhesion kinase, and activated Rho GTPase and actin stress fiber formation in TM cells, indicating a potential regulatory feedback interaction between ECM-induced mechanical strain and Rho GTPase-induced isometric tension in TM cells. Collectively, these data demonstrate that sustained activation of Rho GTPase signaling in the aqueous humor outflow pathway increases resistance to aqueous humor outflow through the trabecular pathway by influencing the contractile force, cell adhesive interactions, and the expression of ECM proteins and cytokines in TM cells. Keywords: Gene Expression Two condition experiment: Human trabecular mesh work cells infected with Adenivirus expressing GFP Vs Adenovirus expressing GFP and constitutively active RhoAV14

Dataset Information

Integrated Proteomic Profiling of Aqueous Humor Reveals CDC42/RHOA-Mediated Pathogenic Mechanisms in nAMD and PDR

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets