Immunolocalization of c-Fos and c-Jun in rat ocular surface epithelium

We immunohistochemically located c-Fos a nd c-Jun, the major components of transcription factor activator protein 1 (AP1), in normal epithelia of rat cornea and conjunctiva to determine the expression of these genes in the oc ular surface epithelia. Immunoreactivity for c-Fos was detected in the nucl ei of basal cells of the limbal and conjunctival epithelia, while that for c-Jun was detected in the cytoplasm of the cells of these epithelia. The co rneal epithelium lacked immunoreactivity for either protein. AP1 may have a n important role in the maintenance of homeostasis of limbal and conjunctiv al epithelia. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.