Features of the aqueous humor proteome in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma and its changes during treatment with neuropeptides

Purpose of the work was to study aqueous humor (AH) proteome in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and evaluate its changes during treatment with neuropeptides. Material and methods. AH samples were collected during surgery from 80 patients, divided into the main (n = 52, aged 75 (71,5; 78) yrs) and control groups (n = 28, aged 76 (74; 78) yrs). Subgroup 1 of the main group consisted of patients (n = 31) with developed and advanced stages of simple and pseudoexfoliative POAG. Subgroup 2 of the main group included patients (n = 21) with simple and pseudoexfoliative forms of POAG, who received a 10-day course of intramuscular injections of a complex of neuropeptides before surgery. The control group consisted of patients with age-related and complicated forms of cataract. In addition to routine and specialized ophthalmological examination, an analysis of the proteomic profile of the AH was performed using the Cytokine/ Chemokine/ Growth Factor Convenience 45-Plex Human Panel 1 multiplex panel (ThermoFisher scientific, USA). Results. The study of 45 biomarkers revealed changes in 13 of them (28.9 %) in patients with POAG compared with the control group. In addition, statistically significant differences were obtained in 2 of these 13 cytokines (15.4 %) after a course of neuroprotective treatment. Conclusion. The shifts in the cytokine system revealed as a result of proteomic mapping of the AH indicate their role in the implementation of systemic mechanisms of glaucoma development and progression as modulators of the chronic inflammatory component. The detected changes in the Eotaxin protein apparently reflect involutional shifts characteristic of patients with age-related changes in the retina. It is necessary to continue research to determine the risk factors for the development of POAG at the stage of preclinical changes, the development and implementation of an accessible method for early non-invasive diagnosis, as well as personalized therapy.