Abstract
Purpose: :
AMD is a leading cause of visual impairment. Inflammation and apoptotic cell death of RPE and photoreceptors are well recognized to be components of AMD, however the underlying intracellular signaling pathways are not completely understood. MKP1, which negatively regulates MAPK signaling, play an essential function in inflammation and apoptosis. Here we investigated the potential role of MKP1 in AMD.
Methods: :
Real-time PCR and Western Blot were used to determine MKP1 mRNA and protein levels in RPE cells from AMD and normal subjects and in old and young mice. Immunofluorescence was used to determine the localization of MKP1 in human RPE cells cultured in normal conditions.
Results: :
MKP1 is ubiquitously expressed in the human eye with high levels in retina and RPE. It is mainly localized in the cytoplasm in normal conditions and it is downregulated in RPE of old mice compared to that of young counterparts and in human RPE from AMD compared to that from normal subjects.
Conclusions: :
These data suggest a potential role of MKP1 in AMD disease.
Keywords: age-related macular degeneration • aging • gene/expression