Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41773776›Full record

ArticleTranslational vision science & technology2026

Left-Right Determination Factor 2 (LEFTY2) Is an Aqueous Humor Biomarker for Exfoliation Glaucoma.

Andrew J O Smith, Arsham Sheybani, Michael Greenwood, Erin Sieck, Linda Tsai, James Liu, Carla Siegfried, Ying Liu, Ying-Bo Shui, Lilly Gonzalez and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Translational vision science & technology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Andrew J O SmithJohn F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Arsham SheybaniJohn F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Michael GreenwoodVance Thompson Vision, West Fargo, ND, USA.
Erin SieckJohn F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Linda TsaiJohn F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
James LiuJohn F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Carla SiegfriedJohn F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Ying LiuJohn F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Ying-Bo ShuiJohn F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Lilly GonzalezJohn F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
W Daniel StamerDepartment of Ophthalmology, Duke Eye Center, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
Steven BassnettJohn F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.

Funding

WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY CENTER VISION RESEARCHP30EY002687 · NEI · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · PI Steven Bassnett · 1985 to 2026
$18.4M
STRUCTURAL, MECHANICAL, AND CELL BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF THE CILIARY ZONULER01EY029130 · NEI · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · PI Steven Bassnett · 2018 to 2026
$3.4M
NEI NIH HHS P30 EY002687NEI NIH HHS R01 EY029130
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Purpose: Exfoliation syndrome (XFS) is characterized by deposition of exfoliation material (XFM) in the anterior segment. XFM contributes to development of exfoliation glaucoma (XFG). Here, we evaluated left-right determination factor 2 (LEFTY2), a TGFβ superfamily protein, as an XFS and XFG biomarker. Methods: Aqueous humor (AH) and/or blood was collected from patients undergoing cataract surgery. Controls included patients with cataracts (CAT; AH, n = 78; blood, n = 20) or cataracts and primary open-angle glaucoma (CAT/GL; AH, n = 67; blood, n = 20). Affected groups included patients with cataracts and XFS (AH, n = 32; blood, n = 2) or cataracts and XFG (AH, n = 42; blood, n = 19). LEFTY2 concentration was measured by ELISA. To test if LEFTY2 is TGFβ responsive, human trabecular meshwork (HTM) cell cultures were treated with TGFβ1-3, and LEFTY2 expression was quantified by real-time quantitative PCR or ELISA. Results: AH LEFTY2 concentrations were significantly elevated in XFG patients (27.23 ± 45.39 ng/mL) versus controls (CAT: 1.19 ± 0.72 ng/mL, P < 0.0001; CAT/GL: 1.68 ± 1.81 ng/mL, P < 0.0001). ROC analyses indicated that LEFTY2 is a good AH biomarker for XFG (CAT vs. XFG, AUC = 0.87; P < 0.0001). LEFTY2 AH levels were highest in eyes judged to have the heaviest XFM deposits (ρ = 0.341, P = 0.0054). Plasma LEFTY2 levels did not correlate with disease status or ocular LEFTY2 levels. TGFβ treatment significantly increased LEFTY2 expression in HTM cells. Conclusions: LEFTY2 is a promising AH biomarker for XFG. Its clinical value may be limited by accessibility, OD/OS discordance, and interpatient variability. Its role in XFG pathogenesis requires further study. Translational Relevance: Identification of biomarkers for XFG may improve early detection and treatment.

Indexed as

Aqueous HumorBiomarkersExfoliation SyndromeGlaucoma, Open-AngleLeft-Right Determination FactorsAgedAged, 80 and overEnzyme-Linked Immunosorbent AssayFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedTrabecular MeshworkTransforming Growth Factor betaBiomarkersLeft-Right Determination FactorsLEFTY2 protein, humanTransforming Growth Factor beta

Identifiers

PMID41773776
PMCPMC12967114

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.