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Immunolocalisation of thrombospondin 1 in human, bovine and rabbit cornea
P Hiscott1, B Seitz, U Schlötzer-Schrehardt
1Unit of Ophthalmology, Department of Medicine and Department of Pathology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
Insights
Thrombospondin 1 is present in the human and bovine cornea's basement membrane and endothelium. This protein may regulate cell interactions within these corneal layers.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Thrombospondin 1 (TSP1) is a matricellular protein involved in various cellular processes.
- Its distribution and function in the cornea are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the distribution of thrombospondin 1 in normal human, bovine, and rabbit corneas.
- To elucidate the potential role of thrombospondin 1 in corneal cell interactions.
Main Methods:
- Light- and electron-microscopic immunohistochemistry.
- Immunogold electron microscopy.
Main Results:
- Thrombospondin 1 was detected in the epithelial basement membrane, posterior Descemet's membrane, and endothelium of human and bovine corneas.
- The corneal stroma, keratocytes, and anterior Descemet's membrane lacked detectable thrombospondin 1.
- Rabbit corneas showed no detectable thrombospondin 1 in any layer.
- Electron microscopy revealed focal deposits of thrombospondin 1 at the cell membranes of corneal endothelial and basal epithelial cells.
Conclusions:
- Thrombospondin 1 is localized to specific layers of the human and bovine cornea.
- It is postulated that thrombospondin 1 regulates cell-basement membrane and cell-cell interactions in the corneal endothelium and basal epithelium.
Abstract:
Light- and electron-microscopic immunohistochemical techniques were used to investigate the distribution of the matricellular protein thrombospondin 1 in normal human, bovine and rabbit cornea. Light-microscopic immunoreactivity for thrombospondin 1 was observed in the epithelial basement membrane, posterior Descemet's membrane and endothelium of human and bovine cornea. The bulk of the stroma, the stromal cells (keratocytes) and the anterior part of Descemet's membrane in human and bovine cornea were devoid of detectable thrombospondin 1 and the protein could not be demonstrated in any of the layers of the rabbit cornea. Electron-microscopic immunogold studies of human and bovine cornea revealed that thrombospondin 1 labelling of corneal endothelial (and basal epithelial) cells included focal deposits at cell membranes. It is postulated that thrombospondin 1 regulates interactions between cells and their basement membrane, and perhaps cell-to-cell interactions, in the normal human and bovine corneal endothelium and basal epithelium.
