Abstract
Purpose:
To correlate levels of vitreous proteins in eyes with wet AMD that underwent 12 months of anti-VEGF therapy with their Best Corrected ETDRS visual acuity response to treatment.
Methods:
This study involved 258 wet AMD eyes that were treated with anti-VEGF for over 1 year. At every visit the Best Corrected ETDRS visual acuity was measured and, a vitreous aspiration was taken directly before each anti-VEGF injection over the 12 month period. Eyes that lost more than 10 ETDRS letters over the 12 months were grouped as non-responders (n=45), if the eye maintained, gained letters or lost less than 10 letters they were classified as a responder (n=213). Each vitreous aspiration was assessed via Reverse Phase Protein Microarray technology measuring levels of 45 proteins and cytokines that are involved in biochemical processes known to be important in the progression of wet AMD. These pathways included, Angiogenesis, Inflammation, Apoptosis/Survival, Oxidative Stress, and Hypoxia, protein levels represent mean values over 12 months.
Results:
When the mean values over 12 months of anti-VEGF therapy in responders and non-responders were compared, there are four proteins that demonstrate a significant difference in vitreous levels. Three of the proteins were significantly higher in the eyes that responded to anti-VEGF treatment, they were: VEGFR2Tyr951 (P= 0.026), BCL2 Thr56 (P= 0.015) and AMPK alpha 1 Ser485 (P= 0.0273). However, one protein was significantly higher in the eyes that did not respond well to anti-VEGF treatment and that was TGFβ (P= 0.034).
Conclusions:
This study shows that over 12 months of anti-VEGF treatment the vitreous of eyes with wet AMD had significant differences of certain protein biomarkers levels when compared to non-responders. This data may further out understanding of wet AMD progression and treatment response.
Keywords: 412 age-related macular degeneration •
663 proteomics •
763 vitreous