Expression in human ocular surface tissues of the GalNAc-transferases that initiate mucin-type O-glycosylation.
OBJECTIVE
Mucins are highly glycosylated proteins that act as lubricants, protectants, and mediators of signal transduction. The UDP-GalNAc:polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase (ppGaNTase) family members initiate mucin-type O-glycosylation. Because O-glycosylation provides mucins with the viscoelastic properties required for proper mucin function, ppGaNTase expression is vital to the maintenance of healthy epithelial surfaces including the ocular surface. Differences of expression of ppGaNTase isoforms might be factors influencing susceptibility to dry eye disease. Therefore, we determined the expression of the ppGaNTase isoforms in normal human ocular surface tissues and the conjunctival epithelium from patients with aqueous-deficient dry eye.


METHODS
Expression of ppGaNTase isoforms was quantitated by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain rection (RT-PCR).


RESULTS
Conjunctiva and cornea expressed multiple ppGaNTase isoforms, with isoforms T12 and T4 being the most strongly expressed in conjunctiva and T12 and T3 in the cornea. In contrast, lacrimal gland expressed fewer isoforms and had lower total ppGaNTase expression. Brush cytology was found to be superior to impression cytology for harvesting conjunctival epithelium in terms of ease of use, safety, and reproducibility of results. Similar to whole conjunctiva, the strongest isoforms in conjunctival epithelial cells were T12 and T4, followed by T3, T1, T5, and T2. No significant differences of ppGaNTase expression were found between the conjunctival epithelium of dry eye and normal control groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Human ocular surface tissues express multiple ppGaNTase isoforms, suggesting a requirement for glycosylating diverse mucin-type substrates. However, there is no evidence to date to suggest that differences of ppGaNTase expression levels might contribute to susceptibility to dry eye disease.
Imbert
Yoannis
Y
Department of Molecular, Cellular and Craniofacial Biology, School of Dentistry, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA.
Jumblatt
Marcia M
MM
Foulks
Gary N
GN
Couzin
Erica G
EG
Steele
Pamela S
PS
Young
William W
WW
D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000378:metabolism*; D003315:Cornea / Q000378:metabolism*; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000378:metabolism*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D006031:Glycosylation; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000235:genetics; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000378:metabolism*; D009077:Mucins / Q000378:metabolism*; D017350:N-Acetylgalactosaminyltransferases / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D000097763:Polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase
D007527:Isoenzymes; D009077:Mucins; D017350:N-Acetylgalactosaminyltransferases; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000097763:Polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase