Olink Proteomics Analysis Reveals Aqueous Humor Inflammatory Biomarkers in Patients with Different Stages of Diabetic...

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common microvascular complication of diabetes, with chronic low-grade inflammation as one key pathogenic mechanism. However, early identification and dynamic risk assessment of DR remain challenging. This study aimed to identify novel biomarkers by systematically profiling inflammatory proteins in the aqueous humor (AH) of patients across progressive DR stages. The Olink Proximity Extension Assay was used to analyze the expression of 92 inflammation-related proteins in AH samples from control (CON, n = 10), nonproliferative DR (NPDR, n = 15), and proliferative DR (PDR, n = 15) groups. OPG, MMP-1, and CDCP1 were significantly elevated in NPDR and PDR groups relative to the CON group, with progressive increases corresponding to disease severity. Pathway analysis revealed enrichment in core inflammatory pathways, including the IL-17 and TNF signaling pathways. OPG was selected for independent cohort validation due to its significant fold change and robust differential expression among groups. Our findings provide new insights into DR pathogenesis and highlight potential targets for precise stratification and targeted therapy.