586-P: Vitreous and Serum Measurements of Retinol Binding Protein 3 in the Clinical Evaluation of Diabetic Retinopathy

The Joslin 50-Year Medalist Study discovered that elevated photoreceptor-secreted Retinol Binding Protein 3 (RBP3) in the retina and vitreous of individuals with extreme duration of type 1 diabetes is associated with long-term protection from advanced diabetic retinopathy (DR), independent of glycemic control. This represents the first neuroretinal protein identified with potential protective activity against the toxic effects of hyperglycemia on the retinal vasculature, a major cause of DR onset and worsening. We extended these findings by correlating vitreous and serum RBP3 concentrations and examining associated clinical characteristics. We developed a novel RBP3 ELISA assay with high sensitivity (0.1-1 nM), specificity (no detection of immunoglobulin G, albumin, or RBP4), and intra-and inter-assay correlations (p