Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 9, 2026

Author Spotlight: Understanding Retinal Vessel Resilience and Disease Progression
Published on: January 12, 2024
Metabolomics Analysis of Human Vitreous in Diabetic Retinopathy and Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment
Nathan R Haines1, Niranjan Manoharan1, Jeffrey L Olson1
1Department of Ophthalmology , University of Colorado , Anschutz Medical Campus , Aurora , Colorado 80045 , United States.
Abstract:
The vitreous humor is a highly aqueous eye fluid interfacing with the retina and lens and providing shape. Its molecular composition provides a readout for the eye's physiological status. Changes in cellular metabolism underlie vitreoretinal pathologies, but despite routine surgical collection of vitreous, only limited reports of metabolism in the vitreous of human patients have been described. Vitreous samples from patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment ( n = 25) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy ( n = 9) were profiled along with control human vitreous samples ( n = 8) by untargeted mass-spectrometry-based metabolomics. Profound changes were observed in diabetic retinopathy vitreous, including altered glucose metabolism and activation of the pentose phosphate pathway, which provides reducing equivalents to counter oxidative stress. In addition, purine metabolism was altered in diabetic retinopathy, with decreased xanthine and elevated levels of related purines (inosine, hypoxanthine, urate, allantoate) generated in oxidant-producing reactions. In contrast, the vitreous metabolite profiles of retinal detachment patients were similar to controls. In total, our results suggest a rewiring of vitreous metabolism in diabetic retinopathy that underlies disease features such as oxidative stress and furthermore illustrates how the vitreous metabolic profile may be impacted by disease.
Related Concept Videos
Pathophysiology of Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, with environmental factors potentially triggering this process in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite many not having a family history, certain genes increase susceptibility,...
Diabetes: Management and Pharmacotherapy
Insulin remains the cornerstone of treatment for most patients with type 1 and many...
Psychoneuroimmunology: Diabetes and Cancer
Diabetes: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Complications
Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational
Diabetes Mellitus: Overview and Type I Subtype
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. As a result, the body is unable to produce sufficient insulin, and individuals with...

