BACKGROUND: Cathepsin B is a mammalian cysteine protease. The enzyme has been suggested to participate in the patophysiological processes of keratoconus as well as in the corneal response to infectious agents. This study describes the localization of cathepsin B in the rat eye. METHODS: Cathepsin B was identified in rat ocular tissues by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Cathepsin B mRNA levels were analyzed in the tissues by quantitative real-time cDNA amplification (QRT-PCR). RESULTS: Cathepsin B is present in the epithelium, in stromal cells and in the endothelium of the cornea. It is also present in the epithelium lining the ciliary processes, in occasional stromal cells in the iris, in the anterior subcapsular lens epithelium and in various cell types in the retina. At all locations cathepsin B is present in cytoplasmic granules, presumably lysosomes. QRT-PCR analysis detected cathepsin B mRNA in all these tissues in amounts correlating to the immunodetection results, suggesting that the enzyme detected is locally produced. CONCLUSIONS: Cathepsin B is present in several tissues and cell types throughout the rat eye. It is localized to cytoplasmic granules, presumably lysosomes. Our results suggest that it is probably also produced in the same cell types.
BACKGROUND:Cathepsin B is a mammaliancysteine protease. The enzyme has been suggested to participate in the patophysiological processes of keratoconus as well as in the corneal response to infectious agents. This study describes the localization of cathepsin B in the rat eye. METHODS:Cathepsin B was identified in rat ocular tissues by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Cathepsin B mRNA levels were analyzed in the tissues by quantitative real-time cDNA amplification (QRT-PCR). RESULTS:Cathepsin B is present in the epithelium, in stromal cells and in the endothelium of the cornea. It is also present in the epithelium lining the ciliary processes, in occasional stromal cells in the iris, in the anterior subcapsular lens epithelium and in various cell types in the retina. At all locations cathepsin B is present in cytoplasmic granules, presumably lysosomes. QRT-PCR analysis detected cathepsin B mRNA in all these tissues in amounts correlating to the immunodetection results, suggesting that the enzyme detected is locally produced. CONCLUSIONS:Cathepsin B is present in several tissues and cell types throughout the rat eye. It is localized to cytoplasmic granules, presumably lysosomes. Our results suggest that it is probably also produced in the same cell types.
Authors: Naomi Fukai; Lauri Eklund; Alexander G Marneros; Suk Paul Oh; Douglas R Keene; Lawrence Tamarkin; Merja Niemelä; Mika Ilves; En Li; Taina Pihlajaniemi; Bjorn R Olsen Journal: EMBO J Date: 2002-04-02 Impact factor: 11.598
Authors: Aparna Lakkaraju; Ankita Umapathy; Li Xuan Tan; Lauren Daniele; Nancy J Philp; Kathleen Boesze-Battaglia; David S Williams Journal: Prog Retin Eye Res Date: 2020-02-24 Impact factor: 19.704
Authors: Li-Fong Seet; Li Zhen Toh; Stephanie W L Chu; Sharon N Finger; Jocelyn L L Chua; Tina T Wong Journal: Dis Model Mech Date: 2017-03-22 Impact factor: 5.758
Authors: José Antonio de Mera-Rodríguez; Guadalupe Álvarez-Hernán; Yolanda Gañán; Gervasio Martín-Partido; Joaquín Rodríguez-León; Javier Francisco-Morcillo Journal: Front Cell Dev Biol Date: 2021-01-28