title: Overexpression of collagen XIII in extraocular fat affected by active thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy: A crucial piece of the puzzle?
abstract: Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) causes irreversible increase in extraocular fat volume that contributes to the risk of exophthalmos and compressive optic neuropathy. Collagen XIII is implicated in uncontrolled cell growth in some tumours, but we are not aware of any studies of collagen XIII in TAO-affected solid tissue to date. We conducted immunohistochemical staining for collagen XIII alpha 1 (COL13A1), present in both the transmembrane and cleaved forms of collagen XIII, in consecutive prospectively collected human extraocular tissue specimens from patients with TAO and controls. We identified overexpression of collagen XIII in active TAO-affected fat. We discuss how species and cell-type specific responses of collagen XIII to stressors may help explain the different phenotypes of TAO.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research , University of Gothenburg , Gothenburg , Sweden.|b William Harvey Research Institute, University of London , London , United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Olivia Claire
authors.initials: OC
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.affiliation: c Department of Ophthalmology , Ludwig Maximilian University Eye Clinic , Munich , Germany.
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schebitz Walter
authors.affiliation: a Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research , University of Gothenburg , Gothenburg , Sweden.
authors.forename: Esbjörn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Telemo
authors.affiliation: d Department of Oculoplastic and Orbital Service , Munich University Eye Hospital , Munich , Germany.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hintschich
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism*; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism*; D024181:Collagen Type XIII / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D049970:Graves Ophthalmopathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008875:Middle Aged; D009801:Oculomotor Muscles / Q000378:metabolism*; D009916:Orbital Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D050151:Subcutaneous Fat / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D024181:Collagen Type XIII
keywords: COL13A1; Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy; collagen XIII; extraocular fat; thyroid eye disease