Tear proteomics and corneal biomechanics for identifying keratoconus at-risk stages: new insights into the early molecular networks and pathways

Abstract

Keratoconus (KC) is a progressive corneal ectasia that leads to severe visual impairment and remains one of the leading causes of corneal keratoplasty worldwide. Family history is one of the main risk factors for its development, and corneal biomechanical weakness represents a hallmark of the early stages of this pathology, in which the corneal tissue progressively weakens as the disease progresses. The molecular factors and pathways involved in the early and atrisk stages of the disease are still largely unknown. In this sense, this work focuses on identifying tear proteomic biomarkers and pathways related to corneal biomechanical weakness and KC at-risk stages. Furthermore, new insights into lactoferrin’s involvement in the KC disease and its immunomodulatory capacity as a therapeutic approach are also provided.