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Isolation of Intact Eyeball to Obtain Integral Ocular Surface Tissue for Histological Examination and Immunohistochemistry
Published on: October 20, 2019
Mesothelial proteins are expressed in the human cornea
Katerina Jirsova1, Ales Neuwirth, Sarka Kalasova
1Laboratory of the Biology and Pathology of the Eye, Institute of Inherited Metabolic Disorders, General Teaching Hospital, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic. katerina.jirsova@vfn.cz
Experimental Eye Research
|August 17, 2010
Summary
Three mesothelial cell proteins, mesothelin, HBME-1, and calbindin 2, are expressed in the human cornea. Their presence suggests potential shared functions between corneal and mesothelial cells.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Cell Biology
- Proteomics
Background:
- Mesothelial cells, found in serous cavities, express specific proteins like mesothelin, HBME-1, and calbindin 2.
- The expression and potential function of these mesothelial markers in ocular tissues, particularly the cornea, remain largely unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and localization of mesothelin, HBME-1, and calbindin 2 in the human cornea.
- To compare the expression levels of these proteins in corneal epithelium and endothelium.
- To explore potential functional implications of these proteins in corneal biology.
Main Methods:
- Human cadaverous corneoscleral discs were analyzed using cryosections and imprints.
- Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting were employed to detect protein expression.
- Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to determine mRNA levels.
Main Results:
- Mesothelin was detected in the corneal epithelium and endothelium, with higher mRNA levels in the epithelium.
- HBME-1 antibody strongly stained the corneal endothelium and stromal keratocytes, with positivity in the stromal extracellular matrix.
- Calbindin 2 was found in the corneal epithelium, endothelium, and stroma, with higher expression in the epithelium.
Conclusions:
- The human cornea expresses mesothelin, HBME-1, and calbindin 2, proteins typically found in mesothelial cells.
- Mesothelin's presence suggests a role in cell-cell contact on the ocular surface.
- HBME-1 in the endothelium may indicate shared functions with pleural/peritoneal mesothelial cells, while calbindin 2 levels correlate with epithelial cell turnover.
