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Aquaporin-1 expression is decreased in human and mouse corneal endothelial dysfunction
Elizabeth Macnamara1, G Walter Sams, Kimberly Smith
1Department of Ophthalmology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta 30912, USA.
Purpose:
To determine if aquaporin-1 expression is decreased in human and mouse corneal endothelial dysfunction.
Methods:
Immunohistochemistry with anti-aquaporin 1 antibody and confocal microscopy were used to study a case series of human corneal specimens, and a mouse model of corneal endothelial injury was created with injection of sterile hot water into the anterior chamber with a 33 gauge needle. Western blotting of mouse and human corneas was used to provide confirmatory evidence.
Results:
Aquaporin-1 was found to be expressed in normal human cornea and decreased in human corneas with endothelial disease but not in human corneas with non-endothelial corneal disease. Aquaporin-1 was also found to be reduced in mouse corneas subjected to corneal endothelial injury. Both results were confirmed by western blot analysis.
Conclusions:
Corneal endothelial injury is associated with decreased aquaporin-1 expression.
