Phenotypic investigation of cell junction-related proteins in gelatinous drop-like corneal dystrophy.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the molecules involved in the pathogenesis of gelatinous drop-like corneal dystrophy (GDLD) by using immunohistochemical analysis of the expression of tight junction (TJ)-, desmosome-, and basement membrane (BM)-related proteins in human corneas with GDLD.


METHODS
Mutation analysis was performed on samples from three Japanese women with GDLD. Four corneal buttons from these patients were examined histopathologically by Congo red staining and immunohistochemical analysis for the expression of TJ-related proteins (ZO-1, occludin, and claudin-1), desmosome components (desmoplakin), BM-related proteins (integrins alpha6, beta4, alpha3, and beta1; laminin-5; and collagens IV and VII), amyloid P component, and lactoferrin.


RESULTS
Mutation analysis revealed that all three women had the Q118X mutation on M1S1. There were accumulations, primarily beneath the epithelium, of Congo-red-positive deposits with birefringence under polarized light. The BM was abnormally thickened and demonstrated a bandlike area. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that neither ZO-1 nor occludin was expressed in the TJ areas of surface epithelial cells; there was no expression of claudin-1 or desmoplakin in the epithelial surface layer of GDLD corneas. Integrins alpha6, beta4, alpha3, and beta1 was expressed along the serrated surface of the BM, laminin-5 and collagens IV and VII were widely expressed throughout the BM, and lactoferrin was expressed in the amyloid deposits and the thickened BM.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first demonstration of the unique expression patterns of the major cell-junction-related proteins in GDLD corneas. The results show that in corneas with the Q118X mutation, there is a disturbance in cell-to-cell and cell-to-substrate junctions. These findings are an important step toward elucidating the pathogenesis of GDLD.
Takaoka
Maho
M
Department of Ophthalmology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
Nakamura
Takahiro
T
Ban
Yuriko
Y
Kinoshita
Shigeru
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D062445:Claudin-1; D003315:Cornea / Q000378:metabolism*; D003317:Corneal Dystrophies, Hereditary / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D051180:Desmoplakins / Q000378:metabolism; D003896:Desmosomes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D062793:Occludin; D010641:Phenotype; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019108:Tight Junctions / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D062826:Zonula Occludens-1 Protein
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; C568108:CLDN1 protein, human; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D062445:Claudin-1; D051180:Desmoplakins; D005136:Eye Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C568985:OCLN protein, human; D062793:Occludin; D010750:Phosphoproteins; C499380:TACSTD2 protein, human; C569042:TJP1 protein, human; D062826:Zonula Occludens-1 Protein