A New Development in Medicine: Tear Biomarkers and Non-invasive Disease Testing

A special issue of Biomedicines (ISSN 2227-9059). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular and Translational Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2024) | Viewed by 9543

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Center for Proteomics & Artificial Intelligence, Center for Clinical Mass Spectrometry, Cancer Institute, Allegheny Health Network, 100 S Jackson Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15202, USA
Interests: biomarkers and diagnosis; proteomics and artificial intelligence; cell signaling; drug discovery

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Southwest Pennsylvania Eye Center, Washington, PA 15301, USA
2. Sewickley Eye Group, Sewickley, PA 15143, USA
Interests: tear biomarker; innovative tear technologies; tear film diagnosis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the realm of modern medicine, we stand at the threshold of an exciting era, one where the unassuming tear fluid harbors remarkable potential as a wellspring of biomarkers. This potential extends far beyond ophthalmology, encompassing a spectrum of diseases, ranging from neurological conditions to diabetes to cancer and mental health disorders. Tear biomarkers, characterized by their non-invasive nature and ease of collection, offer a transformative approach to early disease detection and monitoring.

As we embark on this journey of exploration, we recognize the profound implications this research area holds for the medical field. Tear biomarkers may soon transcend novelty to become an integral facet of routine medical care, redefining how we diagnose and treat diseases.

In light of this, we extend an invitation to contribute your research papers and expert reviews to this Special Issue. We eagerly anticipate submissions that illuminate the current state of the art in this promising domain, particularly those that address the following key inquiries:

(1) Which tear biomarkers exhibit the most promise in early disease diagnosis?

(2) How can tear biomarkers be harnessed for proactive disease screening among at-risk populations?

(3) In what ways can tear biomarkers facilitate ongoing disease progression monitoring and treatment efficacy assessments?

(4) How might tear biomarkers drive the development of novel diagnostic tests and therapeutic interventions?

Your valuable insights and contributions are pivotal as we navigate this exciting development. We eagerly await your submissions.

Dr. Kunhong Xiao
Dr. Leanne Labriola
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomedicines is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • tear biomarker
  • tear film
  • tear fluid
  • tear testing
  • diagnosis
  • early disease diagnosis
  • companion diagnostics
  • disease screening
  • disease progression monitoring
  • in vitro diagnostics (IVD)
  • point-of-care testing (POCT)

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

18 pages, 3734 KiB  
Article
Precision in Tear Fluid Biomarker Discovery: Quantitative Proteomic Profiling of Small-Volume, Individual Samples Using Capillary Tube Collection
by Kyla Frenia, Yunxiang Fu, Maria A. Beatty, Kathleen C. Garwood, Jeremy Kimmel, Veena Raiji, Dipanjan Pan, David Bartlett, Leanne T. Labriola and Kunhong Xiao
Biomedicines 2025, 13(2), 386; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13020386 - 6 Feb 2025
Viewed by 995
Abstract
Background: Tear fluid, rich in proteins, is a promising source of novel biomarkers for ocular and systemic health. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is the primary method for biomarker discovery. Still, factors such as limited sample volume, extracellular protein contamination, and reflex [...] Read more.
Background: Tear fluid, rich in proteins, is a promising source of novel biomarkers for ocular and systemic health. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is the primary method for biomarker discovery. Still, factors such as limited sample volume, extracellular protein contamination, and reflex tearing can significantly impact results. Glass microcapillary tubes minimize these issues. Schirmer strips remain the most common collection method due to existing LC-MS/MS protocol optimization. Methods: In this study, we evaluated multiple digestion protocols for the shotgun quantitative LC-MS/MS analysis of small-volume tear fluid samples collected using glass capillary tubes. Protocol optimization was performed using pooled samples and then compared with the analysis of individual samples. Results: Using the optimized protocol, one μL samples were processed using a timsTOF Pro 2 mass spectrometer (Bruker) coupled online with an Evosep One liquid chromatography system (Evosep), leading to the identification of an average of 361 ± 63 proteins in pooled samples and 525 ± 123 proteins in individual small-volume tear fluid samples. Conclusions: This protocol highlights the practicality of using glass capillary tubes for comprehensive LC-MS/MS-based tear proteomics analysis, paving the way for detailed proteomics characterization of individual tear fluid samples rather than pooled samples. By shifting from pooled to individual samples, this approach greatly accelerates tear biomarker discovery, advancing precision and personalized medicine. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 1542 KiB  
Article
Comparative Analysis of Corneal Wound Healing: Differential Molecular Responses in Tears Following PRK, FS-LASIK, and SMILE Procedures
by Dominika Janiszewska-Bil, Beniamin Oskar Grabarek, Anita Lyssek-Boroń, Aleksandra Kiełbasińska, Bernadeta Kuraszewska, Edward Wylęgała and Katarzyna Krysik
Biomedicines 2024, 12(10), 2289; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12102289 - 9 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1590
Abstract
Background/Objectives: In this study, we aimed to analyze the changes in the expression profiles of selected messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and their encoded proteins in the tears of patients undergoing photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), femtosecond-assisted laser in situ keratomileusis (FS-LASIK), and small-incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: In this study, we aimed to analyze the changes in the expression profiles of selected messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and their encoded proteins in the tears of patients undergoing photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), femtosecond-assisted laser in situ keratomileusis (FS-LASIK), and small-incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) procedures. Methods: A total of 120 patients were divided into three groups based on the laser vision correction (LVC) procedure: PRK, FS-LASIK, or SMILE. Tear samples were collected preoperatively and at 1, 7, 30, and 180 days postoperatively. The expression levels of selected messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and proteins were analyzed by using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. Results: PRK and FS-LASIK elicited significantly stronger biological responses than SMILE. Interleukin-15 (IL-15) expression increased notably in the PRK and FS-LASIK groups, with mRNA levels reaching fold changes of 4.65 ± 0.65 and 4.99 ± 0.28, respectively, on day 1, compared with only 2.09 ± 0.23 in the SMILE group. Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) levels were also elevated in the PRK (2.98 ± 0.23 fold change) and FS-LASIK groups (3.45 ± 1.09 fold change) on day 1, while the SMILE group showed minimal fluctuations. The protein concentration analysis based on the ELISA confirmed these trends, with IL-15 levels peaking at 54.2 ± 2.5 pg/mL in the PRK group and 52.8 ± 3.1 pg/mL in the FS-LASIK group, compared with 32.4 ± 1.9 pg/mL in the SMILE group on day 1. Similarly, VEGFA protein concentrations were the highest in the PRK (72.4 ± 4.1 pg/mL) and FS-LASIK patients (69.5 ± 3.8 pg/mL) on day 1 but remained low in the SMILE patients (45.6 ± 2.3 pg/mL). By day 180, gene expression and protein levels in all groups had stabilized, returning to near-preoperative values. Conclusions: PRK and FS-LASIK induced more pronounced molecular and protein-level changes during corneal wound healing than the less invasive SMILE procedure, indicating stronger biological responses. These findings suggest that tailored postoperative care based on the specific procedure could optimize healing and patient outcomes. However, further research with larger sample sizes and longer follow-ups is needed to confirm these observations and develop personalized treatment strategies. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

30 pages, 860 KiB  
Review
Revolutionizing Personalized Medicine: Synergy with Multi-Omics Data Generation, Main Hurdles, and Future Perspectives
by Getnet Molla and Molalegne Bitew
Biomedicines 2024, 12(12), 2750; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12122750 - 30 Nov 2024
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 6353
Abstract
The field of personalized medicine is undergoing a transformative shift through the integration of multi-omics data, which mainly encompasses genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. This synergy allows for a comprehensive understanding of individual health by analyzing genetic, molecular, and biochemical profiles. The generation [...] Read more.
The field of personalized medicine is undergoing a transformative shift through the integration of multi-omics data, which mainly encompasses genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. This synergy allows for a comprehensive understanding of individual health by analyzing genetic, molecular, and biochemical profiles. The generation and integration of multi-omics data enable more precise and tailored therapeutic strategies, improving the efficacy of treatments and reducing adverse effects. However, several challenges hinder the full realization of personalized medicine. Key hurdles include the complexity of data integration across different omics layers, the need for advanced computational tools, and the high cost of comprehensive data generation. Additionally, issues related to data privacy, standardization, and the need for robust validation in diverse populations remain significant obstacles. Looking ahead, the future of personalized medicine promises advancements in technology and methodologies that will address these challenges. Emerging innovations in data analytics, machine learning, and high-throughput sequencing are expected to enhance the integration of multi-omics data, making personalized medicine more accessible and effective. Collaborative efforts among researchers, clinicians, and industry stakeholders are crucial to overcoming these hurdles and fully harnessing the potential of multi-omics for individualized healthcare. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop