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Kuot A, Ronci M, Mills R, Klebe S, Snibson G, Wiffen S, Loh R, Corbett M, Zhou T, Chataway T, Burdon KP, Craig JE, Urbani A, Sharma S. Reduced expression of apolipoprotein E and immunoglobulin heavy constant gamma 1 proteins in Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy. Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2019; 47:1028-1042. [PMID: 31206232 DOI: 10.1111/ceo.13569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2019] [Revised: 05/30/2019] [Accepted: 06/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) is a progressive and potentially a sight threatening disease, and a common indication for corneal grafting in the elderly. Aberrant thickening of Descemet's membrane, formation of microscopic excrescences (guttae) and gradual loss of corneal endothelial cells are the hallmarks of the disease. The aim of this study was to identify differentially abundant proteins between FECD-affected and unaffected Descemet's membrane. METHODS Label-free quantitative proteomics using nanoscale ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (nUPLC-MSE ) was employed on affected and unaffected Descemet's membrane extracts, and interesting findings were further investigated using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical techniques. RESULTS Quantitative proteomics revealed significantly lower abundance of apolipoprotein E (APOE) and immunoglobulin heavy constant gamma 1 protein (IGHG1) in affected Descemet's membrane. The difference in the distribution of APOE between affected and unaffected Descemet's membrane and of IGHG1 detected by immunohistochemistry support their down-regulation in the disease. Comparative gene expression analysis showed significantly lower APOE mRNA levels in FECD-affected than unaffected corneal endothelium. IGHG1 gene is expressed at extremely low levels in the corneal endothelium, precluding relative expression analysis. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study to report comparative proteomics of Descemet's membrane tissue, and implicates dysregulation of APOE and IGHG1 proteins in the pathogenesis of Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abraham Kuot
- Department of Ophthalmology, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Maurizio Ronci
- Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University of G. d'Annunzio Chieti Pescara, Pescara, Italy
| | - Richard Mills
- Department of Ophthalmology, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Sonja Klebe
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Grant Snibson
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Steven Wiffen
- The Lions Eye Bank of Western Australia, Lions Eye Institute, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Raymond Loh
- Department of Ophthalmology, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Mark Corbett
- Discipline of Paediatrics, School of Medicine and Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Tiger Zhou
- Department of Ophthalmology, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Tim Chataway
- Department of Human Physiology, Proteomics Laboratory, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Kathryn P Burdon
- Department of Ophthalmology, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Jamie E Craig
- Department of Ophthalmology, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Andrea Urbani
- Institute of Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.,Department of Laboratory Diagnostic and Infectious Diseases, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Shiwani Sharma
- Department of Ophthalmology, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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