DONATE NOWDuke University Department of Ophthalmology
Glaucoma biomarkers may help doctors detect glaucoma earlier, before significant vision loss occurs. This research studies specific neuronal proteins as potential biomarkers for primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), with the goal of improving early diagnosis and identifying signs of disease progression.
Dr. Tseng’s research focuses on diagnosing glaucoma before noticeable neuronal damage occurs. Previous research by Dr. Tseng has demonstrated that patients with dying neurons, as occurs with glaucoma, have elevated levels of specific neuronal proteins. These proteins may serve as biomarkers for diagnosing primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).
The study examines two groups of patients at Duke Eye Center and has the following objectives:
Aim 1: To measure the presence of specific neurodegenerative markers in patients newly diagnosed with POAG.
Aim 2: To measure the presence of specific neurodegenerative markers in patients with POAG who show disease progression.
Abstract:
Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is a neurodegenerative disease of the visual pathway in which irreversible blindness results from progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). However, intraocular pressure and visual field testing are unreliable for POAG screening. Consequently, clinicians currently lack effective methods to diagnose POAG early. Therefore, our goal is to identify and develop POAG biomarkers for early diagnosis.
We hypothesize RGC degeneration releases neuronal proteins into the blood. Autoantibodies against these proteins can serve as POAG biomarkers. These autoantibodies will be present in the serum or tear film in small quantities. Therefore, the goal of this proposal is to develop sensitive proteomic assays to detect these autoantibodies and test the assays in patients with POAG. Previous studies by other investigators have examined autoantibodies against inflammatory markers. However, researchers know little about autoantibodies targeting neuronal proteins released from dying neurons.
In preliminary work, we have already developed an assay to detect low levels of autoantibodies against these neuron-specific proteins, such as tau, MAP, and neuron-specific enolase. Furthermore, our preliminary data have demonstrated elevated levels of autoantibodies against specific neuronal proteins in patients with POAG recruited at Duke Eye Center. Here, we propose to expand our preliminary work into a larger clinical study and validate these autoantibodies as serum and tear film biomarkers.
Henry Tseng, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Duke University Department of Ophthalmology
2531 Erwin Rd.
Durham, NC 27710
Email: henry.tseng@duke.edu