Plasma Kallikrein-Kinin System as a VEGF-Independent Mediator of Diabetic Macular Edema

This study characterizes the kallikrein kinin system in vitreous from individuals with diabetic macular edema (DME) and examines mechanisms contributing to retinal thickening and retinal vascular permeability (RVP). Plasma prekallikrein (PPK) and plasma kallikrein (PKal) were increased 2 and 11.0-fold (both p r =0.266, p =0.112). Using mass spectrometry-based proteomics we identified 167 vitreous proteins, including 30 that were increased in DME (≥ 4-fold, p p