Immunolocalization of heat shock proteins in the retina of normal monkey eyes and monkey eyes with laser-induced glaucoma.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the expression and localization of heat shock proteins (HSPs) in the retinas of normal and experimentally induced primate glaucoma eyes. These proteins are known to be produced in response to a variety of stresses.


METHODS
Experimental glaucoma was induced in the right eyes of three adult monkeys by repeated applications of argon laser to the chamber angle. Immunostaining with a panel of antibodies against HSP 90, 70, 60, 47, and 27 was performed on retinal sections prepared from the normal and glaucomatous monkey eyes.


RESULTS
The intensity of immunostaining for HSP 90, 60, and 27 was greatly enhanced in the retinas of glaucomatous eyes. Prominent reactivity was observed in the inner retinal layers, especially in the ganglion cell and nerve fiber layers. The staining intensity for HSP 70 was also moderately increased, while immunoreactivity against HSP 47 remained almost unchanged in glaucomatous retinas. Immunostaining against glial fibrillary acidic protein was increased and the immunolabeling pattern appeared to be identical with that of HSP 90 in glaucoma retinas.


CONCLUSIONS
The level of HSP 90, 70, 60, and 27 in primate retinas was increased in experimentally induced ocular hypertension. The differences in expression pattern suggest that each HSP may have its unique role in responding to damage or injury related to intraocular pressure elevation.
Sakai
Miyako
M
Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan.
Sakai
Hiroshi
H
Nakamura
Yoshimi
Y
Fukuchi
Takeo
T
Sawaguchi
Shoichi
S
D000818:Animals; D018834:Chaperonin 60 / Q000378:metabolism; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018841:HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D008251:Macaca; D023421:Models, Animal; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012160:Retina / Q000378:metabolism*; D014129:Trabecular Meshwork / Q000601:surgery
D018834:Chaperonin 60; D005136:Eye Proteins; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D018841:HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins