Proteomic Analysis of Climatic Keratopathy Droplets
Michelle Menegay 1,
DeMia Lee 1,
Khalid F. Tabbara 2,
Thamara A. Cafaro 3,
Julio A. Urrets-Zavalia 4,
Horacio M. Serra 3,
and
Sanjoy K. Bhattacharya 5*
1 Dept. of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami, Florida, United States
2 The Eye Center and The Eye Foundation for Research in Ophthalmology, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
3 CIBICI, Facultad de Ciencias Quimicas, Universidad Nacional de Cordoba, Cordoba, Argentina
4 Dept. of Ophthalmology, Catholic University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Argentina
5 Dept. of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, 33136, United States
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: sbhattacharya{at}med.miami.edu.
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Abstract |
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Purpose. To identify the proteins in the corneal droplets of climatic droplet keratopathy (CDK), a disease that results in the formation of droplets on the cornea. Progressive accumulation of droplets in CDK leads to visual loss.
Methods. Proteomic mass spectrometry of the CDK specimens was performed after fractionation of proteins on a 4-20% SDS-PAGE. Droplets were derived from two human donors. Immunohistochemistry using antibodies were performed to confirm the presence of identified proteins on donor tissues from CDK patients and controls.
Results. Proteomic analyses revealed identification of 105 proteins in CDK specimens. Immunohistochemical analyses confirmed localization of Annexin A2 and Glyceraldehyde 3-dehydrogenase (GAPDH), protein identified by proteomic analyses in CDK specimens. Identified proteins were subjected to analyses utilizing Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) database that showed a few biochemical pathways more frequent for the identified proteins.
Conclusion. About 105 proteins have been identified in CDK specimens and a subset of them has been confirmed using immunohistochemistry. A number of these bear the potential of fibril or deposit formation.
Key Words:
corneal edema, proteinases, cell adhesion, corneal ulceration, corneal epithelium, corneal stroma
