Journal article
The human retina and retinal pigment epithelium are abundant sources of vitronectin mRNA
Biochemical and biophysical research communications, Vol.258(3), pp.524-529
05/19/1999
DOI: 10.1006/bbrc.1999.0672
PMID: 10329419
Abstract
Vitronectin (Vn), a multifunctional plasma protein synthesized primarily in the liver, is often present as a component of the extracellular plaques and deposits that accompany various age-related human diseases. Recently, we reported that Vn is also a prominent molecular constituent of drusen, the extracellular deposits associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) (1). The cellular source(s) of the Vn in drusen, as well as in these other plaques and deposits, remains uncertain. In this study, we used real-time quantitative RT-PCR to measure the relative levels of Vn mRNA in the cells and tissues that lie in close proximity to drusen. The results confirm that the human liver is an abundant source of Vn mRNA. Levels of Vn mRNA in kidney, lung, and fetal or adult brain are <3% of those in liver. Remarkably, mean Vn mRNA levels in the neural retina significantly exceed those in brain and represent close to 40% of the Vn mRNA value measured in human liver. Substantial levels of Vn mRNA are also present in the adjacent retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). These results identify the neural retina, for the first time, as an abundant source of Vn mRNA. They also suggest that both the neural retina and RPE are potent biosynthetic sources of Vn in humans, and potentially significant local contributors to the Vn that accumulates in drusen.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The human retina and retinal pigment epithelium are abundant sources of vitronectin mRNA
- Creators
- S Ozaki - Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, 93106, USAL V JohnsonR F MullinsG S HagemanD H Anderson
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Biochemical and biophysical research communications, Vol.258(3), pp.524-529
- Publisher
- United States
- DOI
- 10.1006/bbrc.1999.0672
- PMID
- 10329419
- ISSN
- 0006-291X
- eISSN
- 1090-2104
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 05/19/1999
- Academic Unit
- Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
- Record Identifier
- 9983979934402771
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