advertisement
Increased deimination and peptidyl arginine deiminase type 2 (PAD2) expression has been observed in age-related neurodegenerative diseases without discrimination between their aging and disease component. Here, we describe reduced levels of deimination commensurate with reduced protein, mRNA and activity of peptidylarginine deiminase type 2 in the retina, optic nerve and plasma of aged rats when compared to young rats. The decrease was significant in the ganglion cell layer, inner plexiform layer and inner nuclear layer. Because our observations suggest reduced deimination is a consequence of aging, we conclude that increased deimination must be a consequence of disease. Our findings are important to understand late-onset and progressive diseases such as glaucoma, pseudoexfoliation syndrome, age-related macular degeneration and Oguchi's disease.
Dr. S.K. Bhattacharya, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami, 1638 NW 10th Avenue, Miami, FL 33136, USA. sbhattacharya@med.miami.edu
2.13 Retina and retinal nerve fibre layer (Part of: 2 Anatomical structures in glaucoma)
5.1 Rodent (Part of: 5 Experimental glaucoma; animal models)
3.5 Molecular biology incl. SiRNA (Part of: 3 Laboratory methods)
3.7 Biochemistry (Part of: 3 Laboratory methods)