May 2005
Volume 46, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   May 2005
The Iron Carrier Transferrin Is Upregulated in Retinas From Patients With Age–Related Macular Degeneration
R. Wong; I. Chowers; T.I. Dentchev; R.H. Farkas; T.L. Gunatilaka; P.A. Campochiaro; C.A. Curcio; D.J. Zack; J.L. Dunaief
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • R. Wong
    Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
  • I. Chowers
    Ophthalmology, Hebrew University – Hadasah Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
  • T.I. Dentchev
    Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
  • R.H. Farkas
    Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
  • T.L. Gunatilaka
    Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
  • P.A. Campochiaro
    Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
  • C.A. Curcio
    Ophthalmology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL
  • D.J. Zack
    Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
  • J.L. Dunaief
    Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships  R. Wong, None; I. Chowers, Santen F, P; T.I. Dentchev, None; R.H. Farkas, None; T.L. Gunatilaka, None; P.A. Campochiaro, None; C.A. Curcio, None; D.J. Zack, Santen F, P; J.L. Dunaief, None.
  • Footnotes
    Support  NIH EY00417,EY015240, RPB, IRRF, Steinbach Foundation
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science May 2005, Vol.46, 3017. doi:
  • Views
  • Share
  • Tools
    • Alerts
      User Alerts
      You are adding an alert for:
      The Iron Carrier Transferrin Is Upregulated in Retinas From Patients With Age–Related Macular Degeneration
      You will receive an email whenever this article is corrected, updated, or cited in the literature. You can manage this and all other alerts in My Account
      The alert will be sent to:
      ×
      This feature is available to authenticated users only.
      Sign In or Create an Account ×
    • Get Citation
      Citation

      R. Wong, I. Chowers, T.I. Dentchev, R.H. Farkas, T.L. Gunatilaka, P.A. Campochiaro, C.A. Curcio, D.J. Zack, J.L. Dunaief; The Iron Carrier Transferrin Is Upregulated in Retinas From Patients With Age–Related Macular Degeneration . Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2005;46(13):3017.

      Download citation file:

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

      ×
    • Get Permissions
  • Supplements
Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: Iron can cause oxidative stress and elevated levels are associated with several neurodegenerative diseases. Transferrin (Tf) is an iron transport protein, carrying iron into cells after binding the cell surface transferrin receptor. In the retina, Tf is upregulated in the retinas of human and monkey eyes with glaucoma, with highest level expression in the Muller cells, suggesting that altered iron homeostasis could play a role in glaucoma. Similarly, iron is found in increased concentrations in AMD affected eyes. The aim of the current study is to quantify transferrin in AMD eyes compared to healthy age–matched controls. Methods: Postmortem retinas were obtained from AMD and healthy eyes. A custom human retina cDNA microarray was used to characterize gene expression patterns across 33 retinas from 19 unaffected donors and 12 retinas from 6 AMD patients (6 with neovascular and 6 with non–neovascular AMD). Regression model and false discovery rate (FDR) calculations were applied to identify age, gender, and AMD associated gene expression. Tf protein was assessed by semi–quantitative Western analysis and immunohistochemistry. Results: Mean transferrin mRNA levels detected by microarray were 1.4–fold higher in males compared to females, and 2.3–fold higher in AMD retinas compared to unaffected retinas. Semiquantitative Western analysis demonstrated a 2.1–fold increase in Tf protein in AMD eyes. Immunohistochemistry showed more intense and widespread Tf label in AMD maculas, particularly in large drusen, Muller cells, and photoreceptors. Conclusions: These data demonstrate that in AMD retinas, Tf expression is increased as compared to healthy controls. Combined with our earlier findings of elevated iron levels in AMD retinas, early onset drusen formation in a patient with retinal iron overload resulting from aceruloplasminemia, and retinal degeneration with some features of macular degeneration in the iron–overloaded retinas of ceruloplasmin/hephaestin knockout mice, these transferrin data provide additional evidence that altered iron homeostasis may play a role in the pathogenesis of AMD.

Keywords: age-related macular degeneration • oxidation/oxidative or free radical damage • gene/expression 
© 2005, The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc., all rights reserved. Permission to republish any abstract or part of an abstract in any form must be obtained in writing from the ARVO Office prior to publication.
Copyright © 2025 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
×
×

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.

×
This site uses cookies. By continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to our privacy policy.Accept