Proteomic Analyses of Vitreous in Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy: Prior Studies and Future Outlook

Vitreous fluid is becoming an increasingly popular medium for the study of retinal disease. Numerous studies have demonstrated that proteomic analysis of the vitreous from patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy yields valuable molecular information regarding known and novel proteins and pathways involved in this disease. However, there is no standardized methodology for vitreous proteomic studies. Here, we share a suggested protocol for such studies and outline the various experimental and analytic methods that are currently available. We also review prior mass spectrometry-based proteomic studies of the vitreous from patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy, discuss common pitfalls of these studies, and propose next steps for moving the field forward.