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Interleukin 11 expression in the normal canine eye
Author(s) -
Richards Tara R.,
Mortlock Jessica H. H.,
Pinard Chantale L.,
Whelan Nick C.,
Revay Tamas,
LaMarre Jonathan
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
veterinary ophthalmology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.594
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1463-5224
pISSN - 1463-5216
DOI - 10.1111/vop.12040
Subject(s) - corneal epithelium , cornea , immunofluorescence , epithelium , corneal endothelium , biology , pathology , western blot , endothelium , cytokine , messenger rna , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , medicine , antibody , endocrinology , gene , biochemistry , neuroscience
Objectives The purpose of this study was to characterize the expression of interleukin‐11 ( IL ‐11), a cytokine with anti‐inflammatory, cytoprotective, and immune‐modulating characteristics, in the canine eye. Procedures Normal canine eyes were collected from clinically healthy dogs that had been euthanized for reasons unrelated to this study. The distribution of IL ‐11 expression in the different ocular layers was evaluated by immunofluorescence (eight eyes). Expression levels were quantified (based on fluorescence intensity) using pixel density analysis. Primary cell cultures were derived from all three corneal cell layers. IL ‐11 m RNA expression was assessed in these cultures using quantitative RT ‐ PCR before and after treatment with TGF ‐β1, a known inducer of IL ‐11 expression. IL ‐11 protein expression was also assessed in the media of these cells by W estern blot analysis. Results IL ‐11 protein was detected in the corneal epithelium, keratocytes, and the corneal endothelium of the normal canine eyes examined using immunofluorescence. Baseline IL ‐11 m RNA expression was noted in the corneal epithelium, fibroblasts, and endothelium using quantitative RT ‐ PCR . Treatment of canine corneal cell lines with TGF ‐β1 resulted in statistically significant increases in IL ‐11 expression in the corneal epithelium, endothelial and fibroblast cell lines with strongest induction noted in the fibroblasts and endothelium. Conclusion This is the first description of IL ‐11 expression in the canine eye. The protein and m RNA appear to be constitutively present throughout all layers of the cornea and are increased by TGF ‐β1, a cytokine important in ocular inflammation and disease.