Oxidative DNA Damage and Antioxidant Depletion: A Systemic Profile in Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Biochemistry
• Oxidative Stress Research

Background:

• Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is a leading cause of irreversible blindness.
• Oxidative stress is implicated in the pathogenesis of various diseases, including glaucoma.
• Systemic markers of oxidative stress have not been extensively studied in POAG patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate systemic oxidative stress in POAG patients.
• To compare serum levels of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), malondialdehyde (MDA), and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) between POAG patients and healthy controls.

Main Methods:

• A prospective case-control study involving 37 POAG patients and 35 healthy controls.
• Serum biomarker levels were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
• Statistical analyses included Mann-Whitney U test, Spearman correlations, and multivariate linear regression.

Main Results:

• POAG patients exhibited significantly higher MDA and 8-OHdG levels (P < 0.05).
• POAG patients showed significantly lower CoQ10 and 25(OH)D levels (P < 0.05).
• A strong positive correlation was observed between MDA and 8-OHdG (ρ = 0.855, P < 0.001).
• POAG status was independently associated with lower CoQ10 levels after adjusting for age and sex (P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

• POAG patients display a systemic oxidative imbalance with increased oxidative damage and reduced antioxidant capacity.
• The observed systemic imbalance is associated with POAG but does not correlate with clinical disease severity.
• Findings suggest a potential systemic component of POAG rather than a direct marker of disease severity.