Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Myocilin protein levels in eye fluid of normal and glaucoma Beagles
By Mackay, E O et al.·Published in Veterinary ophthalmology·2008·Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences and the Gwathmey-Adams Laboratory of Vision Science, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Aqueous humor myocilin protein levels in normal, genetic carriers, and glaucoma Beagles.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of Beagles, including healthy dogs, genetic carriers, and those with varying stages of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), were studied to measure levels of a protein called myocilin in their eye fluid. The research found that normal Beagles had low myocilin levels, while genetic carriers had moderately increased levels, and those with POAG showed significantly higher levels that increased with the severity of their condition. This suggests that myocilin levels could be linked to the presence and severity of glaucoma in dogs. However, the exact impact of myocilin on eye pressure and health is still unclear.
People also search for: Beagle glaucoma symptoms · myocilin levels in dogs · treatment for dog eye problems · how to manage glaucoma in dogs
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The gene (myocilin: MYOC) has been attributed to be involved in over 6% of inherited types of human glaucoma, the highest correlation for any gene to date. This study determines myocilin protein levels in the aqueous humor (AH) of normal laboratory quality, genetic carrier (offspring of normal laboratory quality and POAG Beagles), and primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) Beagles. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighteen dogs were used and classified as either normal, carrier or having mild, moderate or advanced POAG. A 0.1 mL sample of AH was drawn from the anterior chamber of each dog in the study and frozen on dry ice. A modified Coomassie stain and Western blot, using a polyclonal rabbit antihuman myocilin antibody (Santa Cruz Biotechnologies, Santa Cruz, CA), was run on each sample to compare the myocilin levels. A purified human trabecular meshwork excreted myocilin protein sample was used as a control (Alcon Research Laboratories, Fort Worth, TX) and its band/densitometry measurement was defined as one unit of myocilin for comparisons. RESULTS: Comparisons of AH myocilin levels differed among normal laboratory quality, genetic carrier, and POAG Beagles at different stages of the disease. In the normal laboratory, Beagles the AH myocilin measured 0.817 +/- 0.075 units (mean +/- SEM); in the carrier Beagles the AH myocilin was 3.117 +/- 0.290 units. As POAG progressed, myocilin protein levels also increased to 6.097 +/- 0.810, 8.844 +/- 1.079, and 17.228 +/- 1.198 units in the early, moderate, and advanced forms, respectively. Overall comparisons between normal, carrier and all POAG Beagles combined showed significant differences (P < 0.0010). Individual comparisons between normal and carrier eyes showed significant differences (P < 0.0193). Comparisons between normal and all POAG eyes also showed significant differences (P < 0.0426). CONCLUSION: This study shows myocilin protein is present in normal Beagles, markedly increased in POAG Beagles, and mildly increased in genetic carrier Beagles. There is a strong correlation between amounts of AH myocilin protein and the presence and severity of POAG. The exact role of AH myocilin levels in the genesis of ocular hypertension remains unresolved, but myocilin may adversely affect AH outflow.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18435660/