Possible role of transferrin in exfoliation syndrome

Protein concentration was measured in 30 exfoliation syndrome samples and 22 age matched controls. Exfoliation samples contained significantly more protein than controls. We also analyzed by SDS gel electrophoresis 32 aqueous samples, 12 with exfoliation syndrome and 20 age matched controls. A novel finding in all samples was a double band with 77 kDa and 78 kDa. These bands probably represent transferrin isoforms, with different carbohydrate side chains. Exfoliation samples contained a lower amount of the 77 kDa band in comparison to the amount of the 78 kDa band. The lower relative concentration of this transferrin isoform in the exfoliation syndrome samples may be indicative of its possible involvement in the disorder. A different oligosaccharide side chain in combination with a relatively high protein concentration may lead to sedimentation of this molecule. On the other hand, laminin, a glycoprotein detected previously in exfoliation material, contains similar oligosaccharide side chains with transferrin. Thus the oligosaccharide side chains of both proteins may be influenced by the same factors.