Protein Profile of Autosomal Recessive Congenital Hereditary Endothelial Dystrophy (CHED2) and Fuchs Endothelial Corneal dystrophy (FECD)

Abstract

Purpose: : To examine the proteome with changes in corneal endothelial dystrophies CHED2 & FECD

Methods: : The study protocol had the approval of Institutional Review Board of Aravind eye hospital. Dystrophic corneas were collected from the patients during Penetrating Keratoplasty. Control corneas were obtained from Rotary Aravind International Eye Bank. Tissues were frozen in LQN2 and homogenized in ice using lysis buffer and the amount of protein was determined. Same concentration of proteins from each dystrophy and control corneas were subjected to 2-D analysis followed by nano LC-MS/MS. Experimental and biological replicates were carried out.

Results: : From the 2-D gels we observed nearly 120 individual spots from each group. We could perceive some differentially expressed spots between dystrophy and control gels and also between CHED2 and FECD. Ten different corneal proteins were identified through nano LC-MS/MS. Tentatively 65 proteins could be identified by matching the spots with the cornea 2D-PAGE database. There were marked differences on some of the proteins of blood/plasma, immune defense and antioxidant functional group. Interestingly we observed a spot from CHED2 which was present neither in control nor in FECD.

Conclusions: : This is the first study analyzing proteome of whole corneal tissue of CHED2 and FECD. The recognized unique spot present in CHED2 and up regulation or the down regulation of the specific proteins has to be analyzed further. The proteomic approach will provide better understanding and identification of the underlying genetic defects of these dystrophies.

Keywords: cornea: basic science • proteomics • degenerations/dystrophies