LOCALIZATION OF THE STRESS PROTEINS ALPHA-B-CRYSTALLIN AND TRABECULARMESHWORK INDUCIBLE GLUCOCORTICOID RESPONSE PROTEIN IN NORMAL AND GLAUCOMATOUS TRABECULAR MESHWORK

PURPOSE. To examine the differential staining of two potential stress- response markers, alpha beta-crystallin and the trabecular meshwork in ducible glucocorticoid response protein (TIGR), in meshwork from norma l and glaucomatous human eyes. METHODS. Trabecular meshwork from 35 ey es from 23 donors with either primary open-angle glaucoma, pseudoexfol iative glaucoma, or low-tension glaucoma, and from age-matched normal eyes, was examined. Sagittal and tangential frozen sections were stain ed with polyclonal antibodies to alpha beta-crystallin or TIGR and the n by a fluorescent secondary antibody. RESULTS. In normal eyes, labeli ng for alpha beta-crystallin occurred in the subendothelial region of Schlemm's canal and outer corneoscleral regions, whereas TIGR labeling was found in the inner uveal meshwork region and the anterior portion of the meshwork. In contrast, in many glaucomatous eyes, labeling for alpha beta-crystallin and TIGR occurred in more regions of the meshwo rk and appeared more intense than in normal eyes, regardless of the ty pe or clinical severity of glaucoma. CONCLUSIONS. The differences in l ocalization of alpha beta-crystallin and TIGR may relate to functional specialization within meshwork tissues. The increase in the staining for these proteins in glaucomatous eyes could involve environmental an d genetic factors in the disease processes.