Abstract
Purpose. To determine the expression and localization of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and TNF-α receptor-1 in the retina of normal and glaucomatous eyes. Methods. Using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, retinal expression and localization of TNF-α and TNF-αreceptor-1 were studied in retina sections from 20 eyes of donors with glaucoma, and 20 eyes of age-matched normal donors. Results. According to immunohistochemistry, the intensity of the immunostaining and the number of labeled cells for TNF-αor its receptor were greater in retina sections of glaucomatous eyes than in control eyes of age-matched normal donors. In situ hybridization showed that mRNA signals for TNF-α or TNF-αreceptor-1 were similarly more intense in glaucomatous eyes than in age-matched control eyes. Both protein and mRNA of TNF-α or TNF-α receptor-1 were predominantly localized to the inner retinal layers. Double-immunofluorescence labeling demonstrated that retinal immunostaining for TNT-α was predominantly positive in the glial cells, whereas immunostaining for TNF-α receptor-1 was mainly positive in the retinal ganglion cells. Conclusion. Upregulation of TNF-α and its receptor-1 in glaucomatous retina suggest that TNF-α-mediated cell death is involved in the neurodegeneration process of glaucoma.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1787-1794 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science |
| Volume | 42 |
| Issue number | 8 |
| State | Published - 2001 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ophthalmology
- Sensory Systems
- Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience