HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Vaughan–Thomas, A. Articles by Duance, V. C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Vaughan–Thomas, A. Articles by Duance, V. C.

Elevated Levels of Proteolytic Enzymes in the Aging Human Vitreous

¹ From the Connective Tissue Biology Laboratories, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Wales, United Kingdom.

PURPOSE. To identify whether aging of human vitreous is accompanied by an elevation in degradative enzymes within the TISSUE. METHODS. Human vitreous samples from donors aged 10 to 88 years were placed in two groups based on donor age of less than or more than 50 years. Homogenized samples were analyzed by gelatin substrate zymography for matrix metalloproteinases (MMP). Serine proteinases were detected by casein substrate zymography, and a specific antibody was used to confirm the identity of, and to quantify, the serine proteinase, PLASMIN. RESULTS. Progelatinase A (ProMMP-2) was present in all the vitreous samples but did not show an age-related increase. MMP-2 was also present at low levels. Progelatinase B (ProMMP-9) was found in approximately 80% of samples analyzed, but neither its presence nor level of activity was age dependent. Of the serine proteinase activities detected, an enzyme of approximately 80 kDa was identified by Western blot analysis as plasmin(ogen). Quantitative analysis revealed a significant increase in plasmin(ogen) with AGE. CONCLUSIONS. This study shows there is an age-related increase in potential degradative activity in human vitreous that may be responsible for degenerative changes such as vitreous liquefaction. The data suggest that increased levels of these enzymes precede, or are indicative of, underlying ocular disease in some individuals.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A.-L. Bergstrom, H. Cordes, N. Zsurger, P. M. H. Heegaard, H. Laursen, and J. Chabry Amidation and Structure Relaxation Abolish the Neurotoxicity of the Prion Peptide PrP106-126 in Vivo and in Vitro J. Biol. Chem., June 17, 2005; 280(24): 23114 - 23121. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. N. Bishop, D. F. Holmes, K. E. Kadler, D. McLeod, and K. J. Bos Age-Related Changes on the Surface of Vitreous Collagen Fibrils Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., April 1, 2004; 45(4): 1041 - 1046. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. J. Harocopos, Y.-B. Shui, M. McKinnon, N. M. Holekamp, M. O. Gordon, and D. C. Beebe Importance of Vitreous Liquefaction in Age-Related Cataract Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., January 1, 2004; 45(1): 77 - 85. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. I. Los, R. J. van der Worp, M. J. A. van Luyn, and J. M. M. Hooymans Age-Related Liquefaction of the Human Vitreous Body: LM and TEM Evaluation of the Role of Proteoglycans and Collagen Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., July 1, 2003; 44(7): 2828 - 2833. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]