Abstract
Purpose To examine pseudophakic/aphakic bullous keratopathy (PBK/ABK) human corneas for patterns of expression of tenascin-cytotactin (TN-C) variants known to mediate specific cellular functions, viz. anti-adhesion (high molecular mass (Mr)) and adhesion (low/intermediate Mr).
Methods PBK/ABK corneas were selected to encompass only those with bullae and without inflammation, scarring or neovascularisation. Serial sections from these and normal corneas were labelled with antibodies BC-4 (recognising all TN-C variants) and BC-2 (specific for the high Mr TN-C variant). Bound antibody was revealed with an avidin-biotin peroxidase technique. In a given pair of corneal sections, positivity with BC-4 but not BC-2 indicates localisation of low/intermediate Mr TN-C variants and absence of the high Mr TN-C variant. BC-2 identifies the high Mr variant.
Results There was no immunostaining with either BC-2 or BC-4 in normal corneas except at the corneoscleral interface, where both BC-2 and BC-4 were immunolocalised. In PBK/ABK corneas, BC-2 staining was seen in 5 of 13 corneas and was restricted mainly to epithelial basement membrane (BM) overlying bullae. BC-2 did not label the stroma. BC-4 immunostaining was present in all PBK/ABK corneas and was localised in epithelial BM, both epithelial and stromal borders of bullae, pannus, endothelial BM and in oedematous stromal regions.
Conclusions TN-C variants are differentially expressed in PBK/ABK corneas. The high Mr variant is restricted mainly to epithelial BM overlying bullae, while low/intermediate Mr variants occur in epithelial BM, both epithelial and stromal borders of bullae, and in pannus. Given the in vitro functions of TN-C, a role for promoting epithelial dehiscence and re-attachment to the substratum in PBK/ABK corneas by high and low/intermediate Mr variants respectively is likely.
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This study was supported by the North West Region Health Authority, Manchester Royal Eye Hospital Endowment Funds, Instituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro and ‘Progetto Finalizzato: Applicazioni Cliniche della Ricerca Oncologica’ of the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche.
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Maseruka, H., Ataullah, S., Zardi, L. et al. Tenascin-cytotactin (TN-C) variants in pseudophakic/aphakic bullous keratopathy corneas. Eye 12, 729–734 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1038/eye.1998.178
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/eye.1998.178