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Human Retinal Pigment Epithelium Cell Changes and Expression of B-Crystallin

A Biomarker for Retinal Pigment Epithelium Cell Change in Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Soma De, PhD; David M. Rabin, BS; Enrique Salero, PhD; Patricia L. Lederman, BS; Sally Temple, PhD; Jeffrey H. Stern, PhD, MD

Arch Ophthalmol. 2007;125(5):641-645.

Objective  To examine changes in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in eyes with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and specifically to characterize B-crystallin expression in RPE cells as a biomarker in this disease.

Methods  Maculae from human patients diagnosed as having AMD or from age-matched control eyes were isolated, cryosectioned, and analyzed immunohistochemically for B-crystallin and for cell type–specific markers.

Results  In eyes with dry and wet AMD, B-crystallin was heterogeneously expressed by a subpopulation of RPE cells in the macular region (frequently in cells adjacent to drusen) and in areas of RPE hypertrophy associated with wet AMD. In contrast, B-crystallin was not detected at significant levels in control RPE.

Conclusion  Accompanying the formation of drusen in early-stage and late-stage AMD, RPE cells undergo change to express B-crystallin.

Clinical Relevance  The detection of B-crystallin in the RPE of patients with early and advanced AMD implicates this as an AMD biomarker. Sporadic expression of B-crystallin by RPE cells localized adjacent to drusen in early AMD indicates that changes in the gene expression of RPE cells accompany early stages of the disease and introduces novel potential targets for AMD therapy.

Author Affiliations: Center for Neuropharmacology and Neuroscience (Drs De, Salero, and Temple and Mr Rabin and Ms Lederman) and Department of Ophthalmology (Dr Stern), Albany Medical College, Albany, NY.