Fibulin-5 distribution in human eyes: relevance to age-related macular degeneration.
Fibulin-5 is an extracellular matrix glycoprotein that participates in elastogenesis. Mutations in the gene for fibulin-5 have been found to be associated with age-related macular degeneration. Little is known, however, about the expression of this gene in normal eyes or eyes with age-related macular degeneration. In this study, we evaluated the expression of the fibulin-5 protein in human donor eyes and localized this protein to Bruch's membrane and the intercapillary pillars of the choriocapillaris in normal eyes. In eyes with age-related macular degeneration, fibulin-5 was localized to pathologic basal deposits beneath the retinal pigment epithelium as well as some small drusen. These results suggest that fibulin-5 may promote extracellular deposit formation in macular degeneration.
Mullins
Robert F
RF
Olvera
Marissa A
MA
Clark
Abbot F
AF
Stone
Edwin M
EM
D016570:Bruch Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000378:metabolism*
D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D005136:Eye Proteins; C060820:fibulin