Bruch's membrane changes in transgenic mice overexpressing the human biglycan and apolipoprotein b-100 genes.
Details
Serval ID
serval:BIB_70B5F2B31C9E
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Bruch's membrane changes in transgenic mice overexpressing the human biglycan and apolipoprotein b-100 genes.
Journal
Experimental eye research
ISSN
1096-0007 (Electronic)
ISSN-L
0014-4835
Publication state
Published
Issued date
08/2009
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
89
Number
2
Pages
178-186
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Publication Status: ppublish
Publication Status: ppublish
Abstract
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is characterized by the accumulation of lipid- and protein-rich deposits in Bruch's Membrane (BrM). A consequent decrease in hydraulic conductivity and impairment of transport through BrM may play a central role in the pathogenesis of AMD. The mechanism of deposit formation in AMD had been suggested to show similarities to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques in which the interactions of extracellular matrix proteoglycans with apolipoprotein-B 100 (apoB-100) play an important role. A prime candidate for this interaction is the small leucin-rich proteoglycan biglycan. The aim of our study was to test the effect of the simultaneous overexpression of human apoB-100 and biglycan genes in combination with a high-cholesterol diet on BrM morphology in transgenic mice. Six-weeks-old homozygous apoB-100 or biglycan, hemizygous apoB-100/biglycan transgenic and wild-type C57Bl/6 mice were fed either a standard chow or a diet supplemented with 2% cholesterol for 17 weeks. Animals were sacrificed, serum lipid levels were measured and eyes were processed for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) according to standard protocol. Morphometric analysis of digitally acquired TEM images of BrM showed that in apoB-100 and double transgenic animals fed a high-cholesterol diet, the BrM thickness was significantly increased compared to wild-type animals. Both groups had electron-lucent profiles in clusters, scattered throughout the collagenous layers of BrM, and focal nodules of an amorphous material of intermediate electron-density between the plasma and basement membranes of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). BrM thickness in these two groups correlated well with elevated cholesterol levels. Unexpectedly, animals overexpressing biglycan alone showed a marked, diet-independent increase in BrM thickness associated with a layer of a basement membrane-like material in outer BrM. The effects of biglycan overexpression are intriguing and further investigations are needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.
Keywords
Animals, Apolipoprotein B-100/genetics, Apolipoprotein B-100/physiology, Biglycan, Bruch Membrane/ultrastructure, Cholesterol/blood, Cholesterol, Dietary/administration & dosage, Cholesterol, Dietary/adverse effects, Disease Models, Animal, Extracellular Matrix Proteins/genetics, Extracellular Matrix Proteins/physiology, Gene Expression, Humans, Macular Degeneration/genetics, Macular Degeneration/metabolism, Macular Degeneration/pathology, Mice, Mice, Transgenic, Microscopy, Electron, Proteoglycans/genetics, Proteoglycans/physiology, Retinal Pigment Epithelium/ultrastructure, Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction, Rod Cell Outer Segment/ultrastructure
Pubmed
Web of science
Create date
26/09/2024 19:11
Last modification date
27/09/2024 15:46