The role of clusterin in retinal development and free radical damage.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the role of clusterin in retinal vascular development and in free radical damage in vivo and in vitro.


METHODS
The expression of clusterin, von Willebrand factor (vWF), flk-1, heat shock protein 27 (Hsp27) and heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) was examined in the retinas of developing mice and oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) mice by immunofluorescence staining and western blot analysis. Hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2))-pretreated human retinal endothelial cells (HREC) and astrocytes were cultured in the presence or absence of exogenous clusterin, and then the cell viability was measured using the MTT assay and DAPI staining.


RESULTS
Clusterin was expressed mainly in the inner retina and co-localised with vWF, an endothelial cell marker. During the mouse developmental process, clusterin expression was decreased, which was similar to the expression of flk-1, vWF and Hsp27. Furthermore, in the OIR model, clusterin expression changed in a similar way to both vWF and Hsp27. Under hypoxic conditions, clusterin expression increased in HREC and astrocytes. In H(2)O(2)-pretreated HREC and astrocytes, clusterin protected against apoptotic cell death.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that clusterin is associated with protection from apoptotic retinal cell death in retinal development and in free radical damage.
Kim
Jeong Hun
JH
Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine & Seoul Artificial Eye Center, Clinical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, 28 Yongon-dong, Chongno-gu, Seoul 110-744, Korea.
Kim
Jin Hyoung
JH
Yu
Young Suk
YS
Min
Bon-Hong
BH
Kim
Kyu-Won
KW
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D015687:Cell Hypoxia; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D051152:Clusterin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000378:metabolism; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D012160:Retina / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism*; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism
D051152:Clusterin; D005609:Free Radicals; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide