Purpose
The aim of this study was to compare the protein profile of vitreous humour from patients with idiopathic epiretinal macular membranes with that of vitreous humour from normal human eyes donated for corneal transplant.
Methods
Vitreous humour from patients with idiopathic epiretinal macular membranes (n=8) and from normal human eyes donated for corneal transplant (n=8) were studied. The comparative proteomic analysis was performed using reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) coupled to electrospray Ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS).
Results
321 significant differentially expressed proteins (abundance ratio > 1.5, p < 0.05) were identified, including 132 and 189 proteins up- and downregulated in idiopathic epiretinal macular membranes vitreous compared with the control, respectively. Biological pathway analysis revealed 238 proteins involved in 875 biological pathways; among them, the most remarkable pathways differentially represented between idiopathic epiretinal macular membranes and normal vitreous were the platelet degranulation, regulation of biological quality and blood coagulation, hemostasis and response to wounding.
Conclusions
These data provide insight into the molecular events possibly involved in the pathogenesis of idiopathic epiretinal macular membranes.
Keywords: 763 vitreous •
663 proteomics •
585 macula/fovea