The establishment of an intimate interaction between the long retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) microvilli and the mature photoreceptor outer segments is essential for vision. The RPE performs highly specialized, unique functions essential for homeostasis of the neural retina. These include phagocytosis of photoreceptors shed outer segments, directional transport of nutrients into and removal of waste products from photoreceptor cells and visual pigment transport and regeneration. The apical microvilli of the RPE play a key role in mediating these activities. The hypothesis of this proposal is that proteomic comparison of young and old apical microvilli of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) will provide insight into fundamental RPE functions specifically affected by aging. This proposal explores the concept that the RPE apical microvilli can be studied to understand key age-related changes taking place in the RPE. Experiments in aim 1 will use a basic protocol to obtain intact RPE microvilli from young and aged rats. State-of-the-art proteomic methodologies and several biochemical assays will determine the protein composition and significant post- translational modifications associated with the samples in each age group. Confocal and immunoelectron microscopy analysis will further quantify the changes in the expression of relevant proteins. Experiments in aim 2 will characterize the role of ezrin in the aged RPE microvilli. Ezrin is an actin-binding protein involved in processes such as cell senescence and signal transduction. In the RPE, we have shown that ezrin is key to the development of apical microvilli and basal infoldings. This research will therefore also pursue a comparison of ezrin binding-partners in young and aged RPE apical microvilli and -MV fraction to better understand senescence-related changes in this cell. We will also investigate whether a differential post-translational modification of ezrin in aged RPE microvilli is somehow correlated to the age-related decrease of RPE apical microvilli. The long-term goal of this research is to identify proteins specifically affected by normal and pathological aging processes. The decline in vision in elderly, a direct consequence of changes in the neuro-retina and RPE, is a well-documented phenomenon. This research project will characterize physiological RPE ageing and relate it to ocular age-related diseases. ? ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
5R21EY017153-02
Application #
7418271
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-CB-G (90))
Program Officer
Mariani, Andrew P
Project Start
2007-05-07
Project End
2010-04-30
Budget Start
2008-05-01
Budget End
2010-04-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2008
Total Cost
$189,263
Indirect Cost
Name
Cleveland Clinic Lerner
Department
Other Basic Sciences
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
135781701
City
Cleveland
State
OH
Country
United States
Zip Code
44195
Bonilha, Vera L; Bell, Brent A; Rayborn, Mary E et al. (2015) Loss of DJ-1 elicits retinal abnormalities, visual dysfunction, and increased oxidative stress in mice. Exp Eye Res 139:22-36
Gu, Xiaorong; Neric, Nikolas J; Crabb, John S et al. (2012) Age-related changes in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). PLoS One 7:e38673
Bonilha, Vera L; Rayborn, Mary E; Li, Yong et al. (2011) Histopathology and functional correlations in a patient with a mutation in RPE65, the gene for retinol isomerase. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 52:8381-92
Hollyfield, Joe G; Bonilha, Vera L; Rayborn, Mary E et al. (2008) Oxidative damage-induced inflammation initiates age-related macular degeneration. Nat Med 14:194-8
Bhattacharya, Sanjoy K; Sinicrope, Brent; Rayborn, Mary E et al. (2008) Age-related reduction in retinal deimination levels in the F344BN rat. Aging Cell 7:441-4
Ng, Kwok-Peng; Gugiu, Bogdan; Renganathan, Kutralanathan et al. (2008) Retinal pigment epithelium lipofuscin proteomics. Mol Cell Proteomics 7:1397-405
Bonilha, Vera L; Rayborn, Mary E; Shadrach, Karen G et al. (2008) Semenogelins in the human retina: Differences in distribution and content between AMD and normal donor tissues. Exp Eye Res 86:150-6