SCG3 and diabetes mellitus: These findings suggest: (i) the deep plexus is highly sensitive to DR; (ii) Scg3 binding to the DR deep plexus coincides with the loss of CD31 and compromised endothelial junctions; (iii) anti-Scg3 hAb alleviates vascular leakage by selectively targeting the DR-stressed deep plexus within the same diabetic retina; (iv) combined anti-Scg3 and anti-VEGF treatments synergistically ameliorate DR through distinct mechanisms.