Review article

https://doi.org/10.20471/acc.2025.64.01.15

Differences between Aqueous Humor and Serum Concentrations of BDNF and PPARG Genetic Variants in Glaucoma Patients

Tena Križ ; Department of Ophthalmology, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia *
Mia Zorić Geber ; Department of Ophthalmology, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia
Ana Merkler Šorgić ; Department of Laboratory Diagnostics, Zagreb University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia
Ana Kozmar ; Department of Laboratory Diagnostics, Zagreb University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Zagreb, Croatia
Katia Novak-Lauš ; Department of Ophthalmology, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia
Zoran Vatavuk ; Department of Ophthalmology, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia
Jadranka Sertić ; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia

* Corresponding author.

Abstract

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is essential for neuronal development,
differentiation and survival, and aberrant BDNF expression in retina is associated with glaucoma. Peroxisome
proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) in retinal pigment epithelium plays a significant
role in ocular pathophysiology. PPARG c.34C>G (rs1801282) (p.Pro12Ala) modulates transcriptional
activity. This study aimed to determine whether BDNF in aqueous humor and serum could be used as
a biomarker for primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and to examine differences between PPARG
genotype and BDNF concentrations in aqueous humor and serum in POAG patients. The study included
140 POAG patients and 87 non-glaucoma controls. BDNF concentrations were measured by
ELISA methods and PPARG genotype was determined by PCR-RFLP. BDNF concentrations in aqueous
humor were significantly higher in POAG patients compared to controls (p=0.001). A significant
difference in aqueous humor BDNF concentration was observed between early and moderate (p=0.008)
and early and advanced stages of POAG (p=0.022). There was no significant difference between BDNF
concentration in aqueous humor and PPARG genotype in POAG patients (p=0.184). BDNF in aqueous
humor may serve as a dynamic biomarker for POAG. No significant differences were found between
PPARG genotypes and BDNF concentrations.

Keywords

Glaucoma; POAG; BDNF; Aqueous humor; Serum, PPARG genotype

Hrčak ID:

335768

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/335768

Publication date:

31.3.2025.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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