Dataset Information

Scleral Proteome in Noninfectious Scleritis Unravels Upregulation of Filaggrin-2 and Signs of Neovascularization.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Scleritis is a severe inflammatory ocular disorder with unknown pathogenesis. We investigated healthy sclera as well as sclera affected by noninfectious scleritis for differentially expressed proteins using a mass spectrometry approach.

Methods

We collected scleral samples of enucleated eyes due to severe noninfectious scleritis (n = 3), and control scleral tissues (n = 5), all exenterated eyes for eyelid carcinomas (n = 4), or choroidal melanoma (n = 1) without scleral invasion. Samples were prepared for the nano liquid-chromatography mass spectrometer (LC-MS), data were analyzed using proteomics software (Scaffold), and is available via ProteomeXchange (identifier PXD038727). Samples were also stained for immuno-histopathological evaluation.

Results

Mass spectrometry identified 629 proteins within the healthy and diseased scleral tissues, whereof collagen type XII, VI, and I were the most abundantly expressed protein. Collagen type II-XII was also present. Filaggrin-2, a protein that plays a crucial role in epidermal barrier function, was found upregulated in all scleritis cases. In addition, other epithelial associated proteins were upregulated (such as keratin 33b, 34, and 85, epiplakin, transglutaminase-3, galectin 7, and caspase-14) in scleritis. Further, upregulated proteins involved in regulation of the cytoskeleton (vinculin and myosin 9), and housekeeping proteins were found (elongation factor-2 and cytoplasmic dynein 1) in our study. Upregulation of filaggrin-2 and myosin-9 was confirmed with immunohistochemistry, the latter protein showing co-localization with the endothelial cell marker ETC-related gene (ERG), indicating neovascularization in scleral tissue affected by scleritis.

Conclusions

We found upregulation of filaggrin-2 and signs of neovascularization in scleral tissue of patients with noninfectious scleritis. Further research, ideally including more scleritis cases, is needed to validate our findings.

SUBMITTER: Vergouwen DPC

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10036950 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Scleral Proteome in Noninfectious Scleritis Unravels Upregulation of Filaggrin-2 and Signs of Neovascularization.

Vergouwen Daphne P C DPC Ten Berge Josianne C JC Guzel Coskun C van den Bosch Thierry P P TPP Verdijk Robert M RM Rothova Aniki A Luider Theo M TM Schreurs Marco W J MWJ

Investigative ophthalmology & visual science 20230301 3

<h4>Purpose</h4>Scleritis is a severe inflammatory ocular disorder with unknown pathogenesis. We investigated healthy sclera as well as sclera affected by noninfectious scleritis for differentially expressed proteins using a mass spectrometry approach.<h4>Methods</h4>We collected scleral samples of enucleated eyes due to severe noninfectious scleritis (n = 3), and control scleral tissues (n = 5), all exenterated eyes for eyelid carcinomas (n = 4), or choroidal melanoma (n = 1) without scleral in ...[more]

PMID: 36930145

Similar Datasets

Project description:PurposeScleritis is an extremely painful and potentially blinding inflammation of the sclera with unknown pathogenesis and unpredictable course. To gain insight in its disease process and identify biomarker candidates, we performed extensive proteomics in serum and tear fluid.DesignProspective multicenter cohort study.ParticipantsA total of 121 patients with noninfectious scleritis (of which 39 active cases), 30 healthy controls, and 23 disease controls (uveitis and rheumatoid arthritis) were enrolled in the Netherlands from 2020 to 2022.MethodsSerum, tear fluid of both eyes, and clinical data were gathered. The level of 368 inflammatory proteins was measured using proximity extension assays. Results were validated in an independent cohort of 15 patients with scleritis, and using addressable laser bead immunoassay, or enzyme-linked immunoassays. In addition, we studied an extended panel of matrix metalloproteinases in tear fluid of necrotizing scleritis with addressable laser bead immunoassay.Main outcome measuresStatistically significant differences in the level of inflammatory proteins between patients with scleritis and control groups.ResultsProteomics revealed 18 significantly upregulated or downregulated serum proteins in active scleritis cases compared with all control groups in both the discovery cohort and the validation cohort. The most upregulated protein was nuclear migration protein nudC (NudC; P = 0.0032), a protein involved in neurogenesis. The other significant hits included proteins involved in T-cell activation, apoptosis, epithelial barrier maintenance, and angiogenesis. Our tear fluid analysis showed matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) to be upregulated in the tear fluid of patients with scleral necrosis.ConclusionsThe results of our proteomics analysis suggest a role for neurogenesis, T-cell activation, disruption of epithelial barrier, and angiogenesis in the pathogenesis of scleritis, and highlight MMP9 and NudC as biomarkers with potential clinical relevance.Funding disclosuresThe authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

Dataset Information

Scleral Proteome in Noninfectious Scleritis Unravels Upregulation of Filaggrin-2 and Signs of Neovascularization.

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Scleral Proteome in Noninfectious Scleritis Unravels Upregulation of Filaggrin-2 and Signs of Neovascularization.

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