Differential expression of vitreous proteins in proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

PURPOSE To identify vitreous proteins that were differentially expressed in patients suffering from proliferative diabetic retinopathy with active neovascularization. METHODS The vitreous samples of 15 active proliferative diabetic retinopathy patients were analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry, and the results were compared with those from age-matched patients with macular hole. RESULTS Twenty-five protein spots were identified in the two-dimensional gel electrophoresis gels. Eight proteins (pigmented epithelium derived factor, serine protease inhibitor, apolipoprotein A-IV precursor, prostaglandin-H2 D-isomerase, a(1)-antitrypsin precursor, ankyrin repeat domain 15 protein, alpha2-HS-glycoprotein, and beta V spectrin) in the 25 spots were expressed significantly differently between the macular hole and proliferative diabetic retinopathy patients (p value < 0.05). Five proteins were upregulated in the proliferative diabetic retinopathy patients, and three were downregulated (p value < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS We constructed vitreous protein profiles for proliferative diabetic retinopathy patients and identified eight candidate proteins believed to be involved in the pathogenesis of proliferative diabetic retinopathy.