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Tear Proteomics in Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes: A Promising Approach to Biomarker Identification of
Eleni Angelopoulou1, Rosa-Anna Kitani2, Rafael Stroggilos3
1Diabetes Center, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece.
Insights
Tear protein analysis reveals significant differences in children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) compared to healthy peers. These findings offer insights into T1D pathogenesis and potential biomarkers for complications.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Endocrinology
- Proteomics
Background:
- Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic autoimmune condition affecting children and adolescents.
- Understanding the molecular changes associated with T1D is crucial for early detection and management.
- Tear fluid offers a non-invasive source for proteomic analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate differences in the tear proteome of children and adolescents with T1D compared to healthy controls.
- To identify tear protein alterations related to T1D disease characteristics.
- To explore potential tear biomarkers for T1D pathogenesis and complications.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving 56 children with T1D and 56 healthy controls (aged 6-17).
- Proteomic analysis using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) with Data-Independent Acquisition (DIA-NN).
- Identification and quantification of proteins in tear samples.
Main Results:
- 3302 proteins identified in total tear samples.
- 239 tear proteins were differentially expressed in children with T1D versus controls.
- Differentially expressed proteins were primarily involved in immune response, tissue homeostasis, and inflammation.
- Diabetic ketoacidosis at diagnosis and glycemic control levels influenced the tear proteome.
Conclusions:
- Tear proteomics reveals distinct protein patterns in children with T1D, providing insights into disease pathogenesis.
- Tear protein alterations are linked to immune response and inflammation in T1D.
- Specific tear protein differences may serve as biomarkers for early detection of T1D complications.
Abstract:
The aim of the current study was to investigate the tear proteome in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) compared to healthy controls, and to identify differences in the tear proteome of children with T1D depending on different characteristics of the disease. Fifty-six children with T1D at least one year after diagnosis, aged 6-17 years old, and fifty-six healthy age- and sex-matched controls were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. The proteomic analysis was based on liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) enabling the identification and quantification of the protein content via Data-Independent Acquisition by Neural Networks (DIA-NN). Data are available via ProteomeXchange with the identifier PXD052994. In total, 3302 proteins were identified from tear samples. Two hundred thirty-nine tear proteins were differentially expressed in children with T1D compared to healthy controls. Most of them were involved in the immune response, tissue homeostasis and inflammation. The presence of diabetic ketoacidosis at diagnosis and the level of glycemic control of children with T1D influenced the tear proteome. Tear proteomics analysis revealed a different proteome pattern in children with T1D compared to healthy controls offering insights on deregulated biological processes underlying the pathogenesis of T1D. Differences within the T1D group could unravel biomarkers for early detection of long-term complications of T1D.
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