Expression of apoptosis markers in the retinas of human subjects with diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of the apoptotic mediators in the retinas from human subjects with diabetes mellitus.


METHODS
Ten donor eyes from five subjects with diabetes mellitus, and eight eyes from four nondiabetic subjects without known ocular disease serving as control subjects were examined. Immunohistochemical techniques were used with antibodies directed against glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), caspase-3, Fas, Fas ligand (FasL), Bax, Bcl-2, survivin, p53, extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK1/2), and p38.


RESULTS
In retinas from all subjects without diabetes, weak Bcl-2 immunoreactivity was confined to GFAP-positive glial cells in the nerve fiber layer. Weak immunoreactivity for ERK1/2 was noted in a few nuclei in the inner nuclear layer and in a few Müller cell processes. Cytoplasmic immunostaining for survivin was noted in the retinal pigment epithelial cells. There was no immunoreactivity for the other antibodies tested. All diabetic retinas showed cytoplasmic immunoreactivity for caspase-3, Fas, and Bax in ganglion cells. FasL immunoreactivity was detected in GFAP-positive cells. Upregulation of Bcl-2 immunoreactivity was noted in GFAP-positive cells in nerve fiber and ganglion cell layers, and Bcl-2 induction was noted in Müller cell processes. Strong immunoreactivity for ERK1/2 was observed in many nuclei in the inner nuclear layer in GFAP-positive cells in the nerve fiber and ganglion cell layers and numerous Müller cell processes. Survivin immunoreactivity was not altered in the diabetic retinas. There was no immunoreactivity for p53 and p38.


CONCLUSIONS
Ganglion cells in diabetic retinas express several proapoptosis molecules, suggesting that these cells are the most vulnerable population. Glial cells in diabetic retinas are activated and express several antiapoptosis molecules in addition to the cytotoxic effector molecule FasL, suggesting a possible role of glial cells in induction of apoptosis in ganglion cells.
Abu-El-Asrar
Ahmed M
AM
Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. abuasrar@ksu.edu.sa
Dralands
Lieve
L
Missotten
Luc
L
Al-Jadaan
Ibrahim A
IA
Geboes
Karel
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017209:Apoptosis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D005260:Female; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000378:metabolism; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D000077022:Survivin; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000378:metabolism
C494826:BAX protein, human; C107489:BIRC5 protein, human; D015415:Biomarkers; D005136:Eye Proteins; C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D000077022:Survivin; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D019014:fas Receptor; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases