title: Early remodelling of the extracellular matrix proteins tenascin-C and phosphacan in retina and optic nerve of an experimental autoimmune glaucoma model.
abstract: Glaucoma is characterized by the loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and optic nerve fibres. Previous studies noted fewer RGCs after immunization with ocular antigens at 28 days. It is known that changes in extracellular matrix (ECM) components conduct retina and optic nerve degeneration. Here, we focused on the remodelling of tenascin-C and phosphacan/receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase β/ζ in an autoimmune glaucoma model. Rats were immunized with optic nerve homogenate (ONA) or S100B protein (S100). Controls received sodium chloride (Co). After 14 days, no changes in RGC number were noted in all groups. An increase in GFAP mRNA expression was observed in the S100 group, whereas no alterations were noted via immunohistochemistry in both groups. Extracellular matrix remodelling was analyzed after 3, 7, 14 and 28 days. Tenascin-C and 473HD immunoreactivity in retinae and optic nerves was unaltered in both immunized groups at 3 days. At 7 days, tenascin-C staining increased in both tissues in the ONA group. Also, in the optic nerves of the S100 group, an intense tenascin-C staining could be shown. In the retina, an increased tenascin-C expression was also observed in ONA animals via Western blot. 473HD immunoreactivity was elevated in the ONA group in both tissues and in the S100 optic nerves at 7 days. At 14 days, tenascin-C and 473HD immunoreactivity was up-regulated in the ONA retinae, whereas phosphacan expression was up-regulated in both groups. We conclude that remodelling of tenascin-C and phosphacan occurred shortly after immunization, already before RGC loss. We assume that both ECM molecules represent early indicators of neurodegeneration.
authors.affiliation: Experimental Eye Research Institute, University Eye Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reinehr
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Morphology and Molecular Neurobiology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reinhard
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Morphology and Molecular Neurobiology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wiemann
authors.affiliation: Experimental Eye Research Institute, University Eye Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Gesa
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stute
authors.affiliation: Experimental Eye Research Institute, University Eye Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kuehn
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Morphology and Molecular Neurobiology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Woestmann
authors.affiliation: Experimental Eye Research Institute, University Eye Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: H Burkhard
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Dick
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Morphology and Molecular Neurobiology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany. andreas.faissner@rub.de.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Faissner
authors.affiliation: Experimental Eye Research Institute, University Eye Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany. stephanie.joachim@rub.de.
authors.forename: Stephanie C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Joachim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000378:metabolism; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002452:Cell Count; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000378:metabolism; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D054633:Receptor-Like Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases, Class 5 / Q000378:metabolism*; D012160:Retina / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D019063:Tenascin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D019063:Tenascin; D054633:Receptor-Like Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases, Class 5
keywords: 
  GFAP
  ; extracellular matrix; glaucoma; optic nerve; phosphacan/RPTPβ/ζ; retina; retinal ganglion cells; tenascin-C