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Abstract #13562 Published in IGR 8-2
Collagen type IX and HNK-1 epitope in tears of patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome
Assouti M; Vynios DH; Anagnostides STh; Papadopoulos G; Georgakopoulos CD; Gartaganis SPBiochimica et Biophysica Acta - Molecular Basis of Disease 2006; 1762: 54-58
Pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX) is an age-related condition, which may cause open-angle glaucoma and has increasing interest since it seems to affect additional human tissues, i.e., cardiovascular tissue, skin, and still lacks elucidated pathogenesis. Collagen type IX and HNK-1 epitope have been considered characteristic constituents of the aqueous humour of PEX patients, since their amounts were increased in PEX aqueous humour compared to normal eyes. Since it has been proposed that the initial manifestations of PEX syndrome occur in conjunctiva, the present study was undertaken to investigate the presence of the same antigens in tears of PEX patients and their possible use as the biochemical markers for early diagnosis. Tears of PEX patients and healthy individuals were subjected to western blotting analysis for various basement membrane components identified in aqueous humour. It was found that collagen type IX and HNK-1 epitope were present in tears, the amount of the former being increased 2.7 times compared to normal (P < 0.05), surprisingly high as compared with total protein or lysozyme activity in tears, which were found to be increased in PEX patients about 25% with no statistical differences (P ≈ 0.4). The results suggest the possible use of tears' collagen type IX for the diagnosis of PEX syndrome.
Dr. D.H. Vynios, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Patras, 26500 Patras, Greece
Classification:
9.4.4.1 Exfoliation syndrome (Part of: 9 Clinical forms of glaucomas > 9.4 Glaucomas associated with other ocular and systemic disorders > 9.4.4 Glaucomas associated with disorders of the lens)