Heterozygous expression of myocilin glaucoma mutants increases secretion of the mutant forms and reduces extracellular processed myocilin
2008

Myocilin Mutants and Glaucoma: Understanding Their Effects

publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Aroca-Aguilar José-Daniel, Sánchez-Sánchez Francisco, Martínez-Redondo Francisco, Coca-Prados Miguel, Escribano Julio

Primary Institution: Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Albacete, Spain

Hypothesis

How does the co-expression of wild-type myocilin affect the secretion and processing of mutant myocilin in glaucoma?

Conclusion

Increased extracellular levels of mutant myocilin expressed in heterozygosis may play a relevant role in glaucoma pathogenesis.

Supporting Evidence

  • Co-expression of wild-type and mutant myocilin significantly increases the secretion of mutant myocilin.
  • Extracellular levels of wild-type myocilin decrease when co-expressed with mutant forms.
  • Mutant myocilin does not increase the size of myocilin aggregates.

Takeaway

This study shows that when normal and mutant myocilin proteins are present together, more mutant proteins are secreted, which might contribute to glaucoma.

Methodology

The study used HEK-293T cells to co-express wild-type and mutant myocilin proteins and analyzed their secretion and processing through western blotting.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.05

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

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