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Full-Field Optical Coherence Microscopy for Histology-Like Analysis of Stromal Features in Corneal Grafts
Published on: October 21, 2022
Decorin and biglycan of normal and pathologic human corneas
J L Funderburgh1, N D Hevelone, M R Roth
1Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan 66506-4901, USA.
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science
|September 4, 1998
Summary
Corneal scarring involves increased levels of decorin and biglycan core proteins, which carry highly sulfated dermatan sulfate chains. This accumulation contributes to the altered proteoglycan composition in pathologic corneas.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Biochemistry
- Proteoglycan Research
Background:
- Corneal scars and chronic pathologic conditions feature highly sulfated dermatan sulfate.
- The core proteins associated with these atypical glycosaminoglycans are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify genes involved in corneal scarring pathobiology.
- To examine proteoglycan proteins attached to dermatan sulfate in normal and pathologic human corneas.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of proteoglycans from normal and pathologic human corneas (chronic edema, bullous keratopathy, keratoconus).
- Techniques included SDS-PAGE, quantitative immunoblotting, and immunohistology using decorin and biglycan peptide antibodies.
Main Results:
- Pathologic corneas showed increased proteoglycan size heterogeneity and enhanced binding of alcian blue.
- Biglycan levels were elevated up to sevenfold and decorin up to threefold in pathologic corneas.
- Elevated proteins were highly charged, indicating increased dermatan sulfate sulfation; abnormal stromal biglycan localization was observed.
Conclusions:
- Increased dermatan sulfate in chronic corneal conditions is due to stromal accumulation of decorin and biglycan.
- These accumulated proteins carry dermatan sulfate chains with higher sulfation than normal.
