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Abstract #6306 Published in IGR 3-2
TNA-α and TNF-α receptor-1 in the retina of normal and glaucomatous eyes
Tezel G; Li LY; Patil RV; Wax MBInvestigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 2001; 42: 1787-1794
PURPOSE: To determine the expression and localization of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and TNF-α receptor-1 in the retina of normal and glaucomatous eyes. METHODS: Using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, retinal expression and localization of TNF-α and TNF-α receptor-1 were studied in retina sections from 20 eyes of donors with glaucoma, and 20 eyes of age-matched normal donors. RESULTS: According to immunohistochemistry, the intensity of the immunostaining and the number of labelled cells for TNF-α or its receptor were greater in retina sections of glaucomatous eyes than in control eyes of age-matched normal donors. In situ hybridization showed that mRNA signals for TNF-α or TNF-α receptor-1 were similarly more intense in glaucomatous eyes than in age-matched control eyes. Both protein and mRNA of TNF-α or TNF-α receptor-1 were predominantly localized to the inner retinal layers. Double-immunofluorescence labelling demonstrated that retinal immunostaining for TNF-α was predominantly positive in the glial cells, whereas immunostaining for TNF-α receptor-1 was mainly positive in the retinal ganglion cells. CONCLUSIONS: Upregulation of TNF-α and its receptor-1 in glaucomatous retina suggests that TNF-α-mediated cell death is involved in the neurodegeneration process of glaucoma.
Dr G. Tezel, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, Box 8096, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St Louis, MO 63110, USA. tezelg@vision.wustl.edu
Classification:
1.3 Pathogenesis (Part of: 1 General aspects)
3.3 Immunohistochemistry (Part of: 3 Laboratory methods)
