Age-related reduction in retinal deimination levels in the F344BN rat

Increased deimination and peptidyl arginine deiminase type 2 (PAD2) expression has been observed in age-related neurodegenerative diseases without discrimination between their aging and disease component. Here, we describe reduced levels of deimination commensurate with reduced protein, mRNA and activity of peptidylarginine deiminase type 2 in the retina, optic nerve and plasma of aged rats when compared to young rats. The decrease was significant in the ganglion cell layer, inner plexiform layer and inner nuclear layer. Because our observations suggest reduced deimination is a consequence of aging, we conclude that increased deimination must be a consequence of disease. Our findings are important to understand late-onset and progressive diseases such as glaucoma, pseudoexfoliation syndrome, age-related macular degeneration and Oguchi's disease.