Abstract
The purpose of this study is to examine if aqueous autotaxin (ATX) and TGF-β levels could be used for differentiating glaucoma subtypes. This prospective observational study was performed using aqueous humor samples obtained from 281 consecutive patients. Open angle glaucoma patients were classified into three groups: primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), secondary open-angle glaucoma (SOAG), and exfoliation glaucoma (XFG). Aqueous levels of ATX and TGF-βs were quantified. The AUC as well as sensitivity and specificity for the classification into normal and glaucoma subtypes using four indicators-ATX, TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and TGF-β3, upon the application of three machine learning methods. ATX, TGF-β1, and TGF-β3 were positively correlated with IOP, and ATX was significantly and negatively correlated with the mean deviation. From least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression analysis, the AUC values to distinguish each subgroup [normal, POAG, SOAG, and XFG] ranged between 0.675 (POAG vs. normal) and 0.966 (XFG vs. normal), when four variables were used. High AUC values were obtained with ATX for discriminating XFG from normal eyes and with TGF-β3 for discriminating XFG from normal eyes, POAG, or SOAG. Aqueous TGF-β and ATX exhibited high diagnostic performance in detecting glaucoma subtypes, and could be promising biomarkers for glaucoma.
Highlights
The purpose of this study is to examine if aqueous autotaxin (ATX) and TGF-β levels could be used for differentiating glaucoma subtypes
TGF-β2 levels were significantly higher in the primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) group compared with the other groups (Fig. 1C), and levels were significantly lower in the XFG group compared with the normal or secondary open-angle glaucoma (SOAG) group
A high Intraocular pressure (IOP) is characteristic in some glaucoma subtypes, such as in SOAG and XFG; IOP can vary and it is one of the clinical findings, it does not always give an exact diagnosis for the glaucoma subtype
Summary
The purpose of this study is to examine if aqueous autotaxin (ATX) and TGF-β levels could be used for differentiating glaucoma subtypes. We reported that aqueous autotaxin (ATX) is present at significantly high levels in SOAG subjects, compared with POAG or normal subjects[4]. We recently reported that in cytomegalovirus (CMV)-positive AH obtained from Posner–Schlossman syndrome (PSS) patients, one of the major SOAG subtypes, the expression of ATX and TGF-β1 was upregulated, and the levels of ATX and TGF-β1. We speculate that crosstalk may exist between ATX and TGF-βs, suggesting that concurrent levels of these mediators may be promising diagnostic biomarkers To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the correlation between ATX and TGF-βs in differentiating glaucoma subtypes. We evaluated the ability of aqueous ATX and TGF-β levels to differentiate glaucoma subtypes
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
