July 2019
Volume 60, Issue 9
Open Access
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   July 2019
Elevated Levels of GDF-15 in Aqueous Humor Are Positively Correlated with Increased Intraocular Pressure in Primary Open Angle Glaucoma Patients.
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • Leona Ho
    Ophthalmology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States
  • Pratap Challa
    Ophthalmology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States
  • Robin Vann
    Ophthalmology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States
  • Christoph Ullmer
    Roche Pharma Research & Early Development (pRED), F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel, Switzerland
  • Vasanth Rao
    Ophthalmology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships   Leona Ho, None; Pratap Challa, None; Robin Vann, None; Christoph Ullmer, F. Hoffmann-La Roche (E); Vasanth Rao, None
  • Footnotes
    Support  NIH grants R0 EY018590, R01 EY028823, F. Hoffmann-La Roche
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science July 2019, Vol.60, 5670. doi:
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      Leona Ho, Pratap Challa, Robin Vann, Christoph Ullmer, Vasanth Rao; Elevated Levels of GDF-15 in Aqueous Humor Are Positively Correlated with Increased Intraocular Pressure in Primary Open Angle Glaucoma Patients.. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2019;60(9):5670.

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      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

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Abstract

Purpose : Growth/Differentiation Factor-15 (GDF-15), also known as Macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 has been characterized as a stress response protein, and marker of ageing and neurodegenerative glaucoma. In this study, we quantified GDF-15 levels in the aqueous humor from primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) human patients to evaluate the possible relationship between GDF-15 and intraocular pressure (IOP).

Methods : Aqueous humor samples were collected from POAG (n=67) and age- and gender-matched cataract (n=75) patients during surgery performed at the Duke Eye Center. GDF-15 protein levels in aqueous humor samples were determined using a human GDF-15 specific ELISA kit. The study was IRB approved.

Results : GDF-15 protein levels (392 ± 54.6 pg/ml) were significantly (p≤0.001) elevated in the aqueous humor of POAG patients compared to non-glaucoma (cataract) patients (52.6 ± 6.09 pg/ml). In POAG patients, the elevated levels of aqueous humor GDF-15 correlated positively and significantly (p≤0.05) with increased IOP. Demographic comparisons amongst POAG subjects indicated that GDF-15 levels did not differ by gender or race (Caucasian or African-American), and were not correlated with age. Furthermore, there were no significant differences in aqueous humor GDF-15 protein levels between POAG patients being treated with different IOP lowering medications.

Conclusions : This study reveals significantly elevated (>7 folds) levels of GDF-15 in the aqueous humor of POAG patients which correlated positively with IOP changes. These findings warrant further studies to determine the role of GDF-15 in the etiology of ocular hypertension and aqueous humor drainage through the trabecular meshwork.

This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.

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