Mass Spectrometry Reveals α-2-HS-Glycoprotein as a Key Early Extracellular Matrix Protein for Conjunctival Cells

Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Aqueous Humor Reveals Biochemical Disparities in the Eyes of High Myopic Patients

Myopia accounts for a significant proportion of visual lesions worldwide and has the potential to progress toward pathological myopia. This study aims to reveal the difference in protein content in aqueous humor between high myopic and nonhigh myopic patients, as well as better understand the dysregulation of proteins in myopic eyes. Aqueous humor was collected for liquid chromatograph mass spectrometer (LC/MS) analysis from 30 individual eyes that underwent phacoemulsification and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. Results showed that a total of 190 differentially expressed proteins were identified, which revealed their involvement in cell metabolism, immune and inflammatory response, and system and anatomical structure. Further analysis focused on 15 intensively interacted hub proteins, encompassing functions related to complement cascades, lipoprotein metabolism, and fibrin biological function. Subsequent validations demonstrated elevated levels of APOE (apolipoprotein E), C3 (complement 3), and AHSG (α-2-HS-glycoprotein) in the high myopia group (31 eyes of cataracts and 45 eyes of high myopia with cataracts). AHSG had a significant positive correlation with axial length in high myopic patients, with good efficacy in distinguishing between myopic and nonmyopic groups. AHSG may be a potential indicator of the pathological severity and participator in the pathological progress of high myopia. This study depicted differential expression characteristics of aqueous humor in patients with high myopia and provided optional information for further experimental research on exploring the molecular mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets for high myopia. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with the identifier PXD047584.

The conjunctival extracellular matrix, related disorders and development of substrates for conjunctival restoration

The conjunctiva can be damaged by numerous diseases with scarring, loss of tissue and dysfunction. Depending on extent of damage, restoration of function may require a conjunctival graft. A wide variety of biological and synthetic substrates have been tested in the search for optimal conditions for ex vivo culture of conjunctival epithelial cells as a route toward tissue grafts. Each substrate has specific advantages but also disadvantages related to their unique physical and biological characteristics, and identification and development of an improved substrate remains a priority. To achieve the goal of mimicking and restoring a biological material, requires information from the material. Specifically, extracellular matrix (ECM) derived from conjunctival tissue. Knowledge of the composition and structure of native ECM and identifying contributions of individual components to its function would enable using or mimicking those components to develop improved biological substrates. ECM is comprised of two components: basement membrane secreted predominantly by epithelial cells containing laminins and type IV collagens, which directly support epithelial and goblet cell adhesion differentiation and growth and, interstitial matrix secreted by fibroblasts in lamina propria, which provides mechanical and structural support. This review presents current knowledge on anatomy, composition of conjunctival ECM and related conjunctival disorders. Requirements of potential substrates for conjunctival tissue engineering and transplantation are discussed. Biological and synthetic substrates and their components are described in an accompanying review.

Alpha-2-Heremans-Schmid-glycoprotein (AHSG) a potential biomarker associated with prognosis of chromophobe renal cell carcinoma: The PROPOLIS study

Background and Aims

Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (chRCC) is the third common pathological subtype in renal cancers. However, the underlying mechanisms of specific genetic characteristics of chRCC are currently unclear. In this study, protein expression profiles, gene ontology (GO), and survival plots were provided by integrated bioinformatics analysis to investigate key genes associated with the mechanism of tumorigenesis and prognosis of chRCC.

Methods

The chRCC data set of gene expression profiles and clinical data were obtained from the gdc-client (https://portal.gdc.cancer.gov) deposited on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data portal. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in chRCC, compared with normal samples, were analyzed by R packages "DESeq2," "edgeR," and "limma." Heat maps, volcano plots, and principal component analysis (PCA) were performed for integrated analyses. GUniGO, mutant analysis, and survival plots were performed by R packages. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was generated and analyzed by R packages, online String software, and Cytoscape software. Survival analysis and gene expressing comparison in tumor and normal samples were used to detect the core genes of chRCC. Furthermore, the top interacting proteins were reanalyzed.

Results

A total of 306 upregulated genes and 678 downregulated genes were identified by a Venn diagram. Ten hub genes were extracted from PPI network. Furthermore, Alpha-2-Heremans-Schmid-glycoprotein (AHSG), one of 10 hub genes, was found to be associated with chRCC, and had a big difference in expression between survival and dead events. AHSG could predict potential prognostic and may be a diagnostic biomarker in chRCC.

Conclusion

This study illustrated that AHSG may be a potential therapeutic target and prognostic genetic marker for chRCC.

Biological tissues and components, and synthetic substrates for conjunctival cell transplantation

The conjunctiva is the largest component of the ocular surface. It can be damaged by various pathological processes leading to scarring, loss of tissue and dysfunction. Depending on the amount of damage, restoration of function may require a conjunctival graft. Numerous studies have investigated biological and synthetic substrates in the search for optimal conditions for the ex vivo culture of conjunctival epithelial cells that can be used as tissue grafts for transplantation. These substrates have advantages and disadvantages that are specific to the characteristics of each material; the development of an improved material remains a priority. This review is the second of a two-part review in The Ocular Surface. In the first review, the structure and function of the conjunctiva was evaluated with a focus on the extracellular matrix and the basement membrane, and biological and mechanical characteristics of the ideal substrate with recommendations for further studies. In this review the types of biological and synthetic substrates used for conjunctival transplantation are discussed including substrates based on the extracellular matrix. .