ETX1 is over-expressed in the glaucomatous trabecular meshwork.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether exon-trapped X chromosome clone 1 (ETX1) is overexpressed in the trabecular meshwork (TM) of glaucomatous human eyes compared to controls.


METHODS
Immunohistochemical, western blot, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analysis were used with human tissues and TM protein extracts. Reverse transcription-PCR was performed on isolated mRNA-derived cDNA preparations.


RESULTS
Elevated expression levels of ETX1 were detected in glaucomatous compared to control TM tissue. This corroborates previous detection of ETX1 in glaucomatous TM by proteomic analysis. ETX1 mRNA is present in TM tissue, suggesting ETX1 protein is locally produced within TM cells.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first report demonstrating overexpression of ETX1 in glaucomatous TM. ETX1 expression may regulate TM protein interactions involved in cell adhesion, and its aberrant overexpression may be part of the pathophysiological pathway in the development of glaucoma.
Iragavarapu
Saradha
S
Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA.
Algeciras
Mabel E
ME
Lee
Richard K
RK
Bhattacharya
Sanjoy K
SK
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D021381:Protein Transport; D012160:Retina / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014129:Trabecular Meshwork / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*
D008565:Membrane Proteins; C486297:SRPX protein, human