Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) , a neurotrophic agent first identified in conditioned medium from cultured human retinal pigment epithelial cells, induces neuronal differentiation. DNA sequence analysis shows PEDF belongs to the serine protease inhibitor(SERPIN) gene family, but PEDF does not seem to exhibit antiprotease activity. PEDF have "gliastatic" effect, along with neuron-survival character. PEDF appeared to inhibit angiogenesis by causing apoptosis of activated endothelial cells. The concentration of PEDF in the cornea and vitreous is sufficient to inhibit angiogenic stimulatory activity. PEDF is taken as one of the most effective antiangiogenic factors. It may prove to be a useful therapeutic for neuronal damage and inhibiting angiogenesis may be particularly effective.

Pigment epithelium derived factor:a potent inhibitor of angiogenesis

Roles of exosomes in the normal and diseased eye.

Biomarkers provide a powerful and dynamic approach to improve our understanding of the mechanisms underlying ocular diseases with applications in diagnosis, disease modulation or for predicting and monitoring of clinical response to treatment. Defined as measurable indicator of normal or pathological processes, biomarker evaluation has been used extensively in drug development within clinical settings to better comprehend effectiveness of treatment in ocular diseases. Biomarkers in the eye have the advantage of access to multiple ocular matrices via minimally invasive methods. Repeat sampling for biomarker assessment has enabled reproducible objective measures of disease process or biological responses to a drug treatment. This review describes the usage of biomarkers with respect to four commonly sampled ocular matrices in clinic: tears, conjunctiva, aqueous humor and vitreous. Issues that affect the evaluation of biomarkers are discussed along with opportunities to leverage biomarkers such that ultimately, they can be used for customized targeted therapy.

/pdf/review-of-biomarkers-in-ocular-matrices-challenges-and-3j0be5w4fa.pdf

Review of Biomarkers in Ocular Matrices: Challenges and Opportunities.

The human eye is a complex organ consisting of multiple compartments with unique and specialized properties that reflect their varied functions. Although there have been advancements in ocular imaging and therapeutics over the past decade, the pathogenesis of many common eye diseases remains poorly understood. Proteomics is an invaluable tool to gain insight into pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of eye diseases. By 2013, when the Human Eye Proteome Project (also known as the EyeOme) was founded, there were 4842 nonredundant proteins identified in the human eye. Twenty-three recent papers on the human eye proteome were identified in PubMed searches. These papers were used to compile an updated resource of 9782 nonredundant proteins in the human eye. This updated catalogue sheds light on the molecular makeup of previously undescribed proteomes within the human eye, including optic nerve, sclera, iris, and ciliary body, while adding additional proteins to previously characterized proteomes such as aqueous humor, lens, vitreous, retina, and retinal pigment epithelium/choroid. Although considerable advances have been made to characterize the complete proteome of the human eye, additional high-quality data are needed to confirm and quantify previously discovered eye proteins in both health and disease.

/pdf/the-human-eye-proteome-project-updates-on-an-emerging-1o4i6jowfw.pdf

The Human Eye Proteome Project: Updates on an Emerging Proteome.

Twenty-nine human aqueous humor samples from patients with eye diseases such as cataract and glaucoma with and without pseudoexfoliation syndrome were characterized by LC-high resolution MS analysis. In total, 269 protein groups were identified with 1% false discovery rate including 32 groups that were not reported previously for this biological fluid. Since the samples were analyzed individually, but not pooled, 36 proteins were identified in all samples, comprising the constitutive proteome of the fluid. The most dominant molecular function of aqueous humor proteins as determined by GO analysis is endopeptidase inhibitor activity. Label-free protein quantification showed no significant difference between glaucoma and cataract aqueous humor proteomes. At the same time, we found decrease in the level of apolipoprotein D as a marker of the pseudoexfoliation syndrome. The data are available from ProteomeXchange repository (PXD002623).

Human aqueous humor proteome in cataract, glaucoma, and pseudoexfoliation syndrome

The aqueous humor is a colorless, transparent fluid that fills the anterior chamber of the eye. It plays an important role in maintaining the intraocular pressure and providing nourishment to the lens and cornea. The constitution of the aqueous humor is controlled by the blood-aqueous barrier. Though this ocular fluid has been extensively studied, its role in ocular physiology is still not completely understood. In this study, aqueous humor samples were collected from 250 patients undergoing cataract surgery, subjected to multiple fractionation strategies and analyzed on a Fourier transform LTQ-Orbitrap Velos mass spectrometer. In all, we identified 763 proteins, of which 386 have been identified for the first time in this study. Sorbitol dehydrogenase (SORD), filensin (BFSP1), and phakinin (BFSP2) are some of the proteins that have not been previously reported in the aqueous humor. Gene Ontology analysis revealed 35% of the identified proteins to be extracellular, with a majority of them involved in cell communication and signal transduction. This study comprehensively reports 386 novel proteins that have important potential as biomarker candidates for future research into personalized medicine and diagnostics aimed towards improving visual health.

https://www.amrita.edu/system/files/publications/proteomics-of-human-aqueous-humor-01may2015.pdf

Proteomics of human aqueous humor.

The term severe cutaneous adverse reactions to drugs (SCAR) comprises of acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP), drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms complex (DRESS), Stevens–Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis (SJS-TEN) and drug-induced erythroderma or exfoliative dermatitis (ED). The present study aims at describing the epidemiological and clinical profile, probable cause and the extent of morbidity and mortality in patients with severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions . An observational study of all cases of SCAR presenting to our centre during the period from Jun 2018 to July 2019 was carried out. A total of 24 SCAR patients were studied. Most of the patients were in the age group of 11-20 years. The commonest reactions observed were SJS-TEN (54.2%) followed by DRESS (42%). Antibiotics are the most common cause of SJS-TEN, whereas almost all the drug groups were implicated equally in DRESS. No causative drug could be found in two of the SJS-TEN patients. These patients had raised atypical targetoid lesions as well as evidence of viral reactivation which could have been the probable trigger for the SCAR. A total of five patients (20.8%) died during treatment in hospital, and the percentage mortality was highest in SJS-TEN. Nondrug aetiologies for SJS-TEN are on the rise, and this was observed in this study too. Viral reactivation may be the commonest aetiology in such cases, and the morphology of the rash can give a clue to such cases. 

Mahashweta Dash

Papers

Proteomics of human aqueous humor.

An observational study of severe cutaneous adverse reactions at a tertiary care teaching hospital

A Case of Papulovesicular Skin Rash Following Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 in A Young Adult: Gianotti-Crosti Syndrome-Like Rash