In situ localization of cytoskeletal elements in the human trabecular meshwork and cornea

The authors compared cytoskeletal elements of the in situ human trabecular-meshwork cell with in situ human corneal cells using indirect immunofluorescence staining for tubulin and intermediate filaments (vimentin, cytokeratin, and desmin) and NBD-phallacidin staining for f-actin using both fixed frozen and unfixed frozen sections from postmortem eyes. Both f-actin and tubulin were found throughout the cell body of trabecular-meshwork cells, keratocytes, corneal endothelium, and corneal epithelium. The f-actin staining pattern was concentrated at the cell periphery of these four cell types. Vimentin stain was intensely localized in focal areas of the trabecular-meshwork cell, keratocytes, and throughout the corneal endothelium. A general anticytokeratin antibody was intensely localized in corneal epithelium and endothelium. However, PKK-1 anticytokeratin antibody was seen only in superficial layers of corneal epithelium and not in corneal endothelium. The 4.62 anticytokeratin antibody was not observed in either corneal epithelium or endothelium. None of these three cytokeratin antibodies were seen in trabecular-meshwork cells or keratocytes. Desmin stain was not noted in any of these cell types. In general, cytoskeletal staining of unfixed frozen sections showed a similar staining pattern for f-actin and tubulin but a more uniform and intense staining pattern for vimentin and cytokeratin compared with fixed frozen material. The authors conclude that these cytoskeletal stains can differentiate human trabecular-meshwork cells from cells of the cornea in situ.