Identification of myocilin as a blood plasma protein and analysis of its role in leukocyte adhesion to endothelial cell monolayers.

ABSTRACT: Myocilin is an extracellular glycoprotein with a poorly understood biological function and typically known because of its association with glaucoma. In this study, we analyzed the expression and biological activity of human myocilin in some non-ocular tissues. Western immunoblot showed the presence of myocilin in blood plasma as well as in liver and lymphoid tissues (thymus and lymph node). Quantitative PCR confirmed the expression of MYOC in these lymphoid organs and revealed that its mRNA is also present in T-lymphocytes and leukocytes. In addition, detection of 30 kDa C-terminal myocilin fragments in thymus and liver suggested that myocilin undergoes an in vivo proteolytic processing that might regulate its biological activity. The presence of myocilin in blood was further corroborated

SUBMITTER: Aroca-Aguilar JD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6296516 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature