Mapping the melanocortin receptors in the human eye

Abstract

Purpose : The melanocortin system offers a new approach to treating inflammatory diseases by harnessing the endogenous apparatus to reestablish tissue homeostasis and resolve inflammation. Agonizing the melanocortin system has been shown to be efficacious in a range of ocular diseases. However, a clear understanding of melanocortin receptor tissue distribution has been elusive. The objective was to determine the transcript distribution for melanocortin receptor isoforms and the protein distribution of melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R).

Methods : Oligonucleotide probes were designed for digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) measurement of the melanocortin receptor isoforms. Ocular tissues from 4 human donors were dissected and subjected to dPCR analysis. An antibody specific to MC1R was developed using a peptide from the amino terminus. A second antibody, raised to a peptide from the carboxyl terminus of MC1R, was also used for validation. These were used in Western analysis of the dissected tissues.

Results : Distribution of the melanocortin receptor isoforms in human ocular tissue will be presented and discussed at the conference.

Conclusions : An understanding of the distribution of melanocortin receptor isoforms in human ocular tissue gives a basis for better understanding of the efficacy of melanocortin receptor agonists in disease.

This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024.