title: Abnormal distribution of retinal clusterin in retinitis pigmentosa.
abstract: Increased expression of clusterin mRNA is associated with neurodegenerative states, including retinas affected by retinitis pigmentosa (RP). We have investigated the distribution of immunoreactive clusterin in normal and RP-affected retinas. Reactivity at the inner limiting membrane, plexiform layers, and photoreceptors in normal retina accords well with clusterin's postulated role as a membrane protective agent. In RP-affected retina the organized distribution is lost and overall reactivity appears decreased. The changes in this case may reflect increased turnover or removal of clusterin, perhaps via interaction with components of the immune system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Rayne Institute, St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jomary
authors.forename: B F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Neal
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000737:chemistry; D015415:Biomarkers; D051152:Clusterin; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018832:Molecular Chaperones; D009410:Nerve Degeneration; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012160:Retina / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D012174:Retinitis Pigmentosa / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C495242:CLU protein, human; D051152:Clusterin; D005136:Eye Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D018832:Molecular Chaperones; D012333:RNA, Messenger