Triad of homocysteine, ROCK2 and vimentin as a convergent biomarker signature in pseudoexfoliation
Abstract
Pseudoexfoliation (PEX) is a complex age-related disorder traditionally considered ocular in origin but increasingly recognized as a systemic condition involving extracellular matrix (ECM) dysregulation, oxidative stress, and cytoskeletal alterations. The disease typically presents as pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEXS), with a subset of patients progressing to pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PEXG), characterized by elevated intraocular pressure and optic nerve damage. While genetic susceptibility has been explored, dynamic molecular markers that reflect disease activity and progression remain underdeveloped. This study investigates the plasma levels of three candidate biomolecules, homocysteine (Hcy), Rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase 2 (ROCK2), and vimentin (VIM), in individuals with PEXS, PEXG, and age-matched controls, to evaluate their potential as systemic indicators of disease presence and progression. A total of 72 participants (24 controls, 24 PEXS, 24 PEXG) were recruited from a single Indian cohort. Plasma Hcy was measured via fluorometric assay, and ROCK2/VIM by ELISA. Analyses included ANOVA, effect size estimation, logistic regression, LASSO modelling, ROC analysis, and unsupervised clustering. Marker interactions and stage associations were assessed through correlation and distribution analyses. Functional validation involved HLE-B3 cells treated with Hcy, followed by immunoblotting for ROCK2 and VIM. Bioinformatics (pathway enrichment, STITCH, TF…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a cohort study, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 72 participants or records.
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