Analysis of nestin protein in the aqueous humor as biomarker of open angle glaucoma

Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) is a progressive optic nerve degeneration, leading to irreversible visual damage. Alterations of the aqueous humor (AH), the biological fluid filling both the anterior and the posterior chambers of the eye, play a pathogenic role in POAG. AH protein composition is altered during glaucoma progression. Nestin protein was found to be differentially expressed in the AH of glaucomatous patients compared to unaffected matched controls. Methods: Nestin was analyzed by an open quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) in the AH of 21 glaucomatous patients compared to nine unaffected controls. The surface of the electrode used in the QCM was coated with an analyte-specific recognition layer. Results: Positive nestin values were recorded in the AH collected from POAG patients; negative values of nestin detection were obtained by analyzing the AH collected from non-POAG glaucomatous patients and unaffected controls. Conclusion: The present study proposes and validates a new clinically applicable approach to analyze biological markers in AH for POAG diagnosis.