title: Crystallin distribution in Bruch's membrane-choroid complex from AMD and age-matched donor eyes.
abstract: Crystallins were consistently found in a recent proteomic analysis of drusen from age-related macular degeneration (AMD) donor eyes. Here we compare the distribution of several crystallins in drusen, Bruch's membrane and choroid from AMD and non-AMD age-matched control eyes. Immunohistochemistry and Western blots of tissue samples were performed using antibodies to alphaA- and alphaB-crystallins. Bruch's membrane, drusen and the subjacent choroidal connective tissue from AMD tissues showed greater immunoreactivity for alphaA- and alphaB-crystallins than were observed in normal age-matched control tissues. Western blots also demonstrated more intense alphaA- and alphaB-crystallin signals from AMD tissues than were present in age-matched controls. These data indicate that alphaA- and alphaB-crystallins accumulate in Bruch's membrane and choroidal connective tissues to a greater degree in AMD than in normal aging. These findings suggest that the accumulation of these small heat shock proteins at this critical interface below the RPE reflects a disease-related stress response manifested during the progression of AMD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmic Research, Cole Eye Institute, i-31, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
authors.forename: Ko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakata
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Crabb
authors.forename: Joe G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Hollyfield
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000379:methods; D016570:Bruch Membrane / Q000737:chemistry*; D002829:Choroid / Q000737:chemistry*; D003459:Crystallins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000378:metabolism*; D038202:alpha-Crystallin A Chain / Q000032:analysis; D038203:alpha-Crystallin B Chain / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D003459:Crystallins; D038202:alpha-Crystallin A Chain; D038203:alpha-Crystallin B Chain