May 2007
Volume 48, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   May 2007
Junctional Adhesion Molecules (JAMs) in the Human Corneal Endothelium and Retinal Pigment Epithelium: Localization and Evidence for Role in Barrier Function
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • K. J. Mandell
    Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
    Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine,
  • L. Berglin
    Department of Ophthalmology, St Erik Eye Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
  • E. Severson
    Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
    Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine,
  • C. A. Parkos
    Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
    Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine,
  • H. F. Edelhauser
    Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
    Department of Ophthalmology,
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships K.J. Mandell, None; L. Berglin, None; E. Severson, None; C.A. Parkos, None; H.F. Edelhauser, None.
  • Footnotes
    Support NIH Grants R01EY000933, P30EY006360 and R01DK061379 and an unrestricted RPB grant
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science May 2007, Vol.48, 3792. doi:
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      K. J. Mandell, L. Berglin, E. Severson, C. A. Parkos, H. F. Edelhauser; Junctional Adhesion Molecules (JAMs) in the Human Corneal Endothelium and Retinal Pigment Epithelium: Localization and Evidence for Role in Barrier Function. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2007;48(13):3792.

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

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Abstract
 
Purpose:
 

Junctional adhesion molecules (JAMs) are a family of adhesion proteins found in tight junctions. We recently reported that JAM-A, JAM-C and coxackie-adenovirus receptor (CAR) are expressed in rabbit corneal endothelium and that antibody to JAM-A produces corneal swelling (IOVS. 2006;47:2408-2416). In this present study, we investigate JAM expression in the human corneal endothelium and retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) and investigate the effect of JAM-A antibody on cultured RPE cell monolayers.

 
Methods:
 

Expression of JAM proteins was assessed by immunofluorescence confocal microscopy in eye bank flat mounts of human corneal endothelium, human RPE flat mounts, and cultured ARPE-19 monolayers. Dextran flux assays were performed to determine the effect of JAM-A antibody on permeability of ARPE-19 monolayers.

 
Results:
 

Expression of JAM-A, JAM-C, and CAR was observed in human corneal endothelium, and the distribution of JAM-A, JAM-C, and CAR in the corneal endothelium correlated with the tight junction marker zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1). In addition, expression of JAM-A, JAM-C and CAR was observed in intercellular junctions of ARPE-19 monolayers and human RPE tissue specimens. Lastly, ARPE-19 monolayers treated with antibody to JAM-A demonstrated a significant increase in permeability to 10,000 MW dextran with an average increase of 33%.

 
Conclusions:
 

Our results provide new evidence of JAM expression in intercellular junctions of the human corneal endothelium and retinal pigment epithelium. The observed effect of JAM-A antibody on ARPE-19 monolayer permeability is consistent with previous studies of JAM-A function and suggests JAM-A may have a role in regulation of RPE barrier function.  

 
Keywords: cell adhesions/cell junctions • cornea: endothelium • retinal pigment epithelium 
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