April 2009
Volume 50, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   April 2009
Localization of Transcriptional Factors Associated With Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Choroidal Neovascularization
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • M. Hirasawa
    Ophthalmology, Laboratory of Retinal Cell Biology,
    Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
  • K. Noda
    Ophthalmology, Laboratory of Retinal Cell Biology,
    Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
  • Y. Ozawa
    Ophthalmology, Laboratory of Retinal Cell Biology,
    Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
  • Y. Ogawa
    Division of Cellular Signaling, Institute for Advanced Medical Research,
    Ophthalmology,
    Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
  • M. Suzuki
    Ophthalmology, Yokohama City Hospital University, Yokohama, Japan
  • Y. Kawakami
    Division of Cellular Signaling, Institute for Advanced Medical Research,
    Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
  • K. Tsubota
    Ophthalmology,
    Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
  • S. Ishida
    Ophthalmology, Laboratory of Retinal Cell Biology,
    Inaida Endowed Department of Anti-Aging Ophthalmology,
    Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships  M. Hirasawa, None; K. Noda, None; Y. Ozawa, None; Y. Ogawa, None; M. Suzuki, None; Y. Kawakami, None; K. Tsubota, None; S. Ishida, None.
  • Footnotes
    Support  None.
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science April 2009, Vol.50, 1172. doi:
  • Views
  • Share
  • Tools
    • Alerts
      ×
      This feature is available to authenticated users only.
      Sign In or Create an Account ×
    • Get Citation

      M. Hirasawa, K. Noda, Y. Ozawa, Y. Ogawa, M. Suzuki, Y. Kawakami, K. Tsubota, S. Ishida; Localization of Transcriptional Factors Associated With Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Choroidal Neovascularization. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2009;50(13):1172.

      Download citation file:


      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

      ×
  • Supplements
Abstract

Purpose: : Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process whereby differentiated epithelial cells undergo transition to a mesenchymal phenotype, plays a role in embryogenesis, wound healing, carcinogenesis, and tissue fibrosis. Fibrous tissue formation occurs in choroidal neovascular membrane (CNVM) at the late stage of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and several lines of evidence have suggested the involvement of EMT with CNVM. However, so far the expression of EMT-related transcriptional factors in CNVM has not yet been reported. The purpose of this study is to explore the expression of Snail family, transcriptional factors for EMT, in human CNVM.

Methods: : Paraffin sections of human CNVM were obtained from Keio University School of Medicine’s tissue sample archives. By immunohistochemistry, EMT-associated transcriptional factors (Snail family) including Snail1, Slug (Snail2), Twist and SIP1 were stained in 12 CNVM specimens of AMD. To better understand the characteristics of the cellular components positively stained with Snail family proteins, RPE65 (specific marker for RPE cells) and -smooth muscle actin (-SMA; marker for mesenchymal cells) were also stained. As a control for RPE staining, the section of postmortem normal human retina were used.

Results: : Of 12 specimens, 11 CNVM (91.6%) showed the staining for Snail1, which was localized in cellular nuclei. However, the other transcriptional factors, Slug (Snail2), Twist and SIP1 were not detected in CNVM. Nuclear localization of Snail1 was mainly found in the RPE65-positive cells (RPE cells), in particular, stained with -SMA. By contrast, no RPE cells showed the Snail1 staining in normal human retina.

Conclusions: : The current results are the first to demonstrate the presence of EMT-associated transcriptional factor Snail1 in RPE cells of human CNVM tissues, but not those in normal retina. These data suggest that Snail1 is a pivotal transcriptional factor for EMT in the pathological RPE cells of CNVM.

Keywords: age-related macular degeneration • pathology: human • immunohistochemistry 
×
×

This PDF is available to Subscribers Only

Sign in or purchase a subscription to access this content. ×

You must be signed into an individual account to use this feature.

×