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Expression and distribution of immunoglobulin G and its receptors in an immune privileged site: the eye

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Abstract

It has recently been demonstrated that not only mature B lymphocytes, but also non-lymphoid cells, including cancer cells and neurons, express IgG. In the eye, an important immune privileged site, the presence of IgG has been ascribed to IgG entering the eye through breaches of the blood–ocular barrier. Here we demonstrate that the eye itself can produce IgG intrinsically. Applying immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, and RT-PCR, several intraocular structures were found to express proteins and mRNA transcripts of IgG heavy chains, light chains, V(D)J rearrangements, and enzymes required for V(D)J recombination. IgG receptors were also detected in the intraocular epithelium and endothelium. The extensive distribution of IgG and its receptors in intraocular structures indicates that locally produced IgG could play a significant role in maintaining the ocular microenvironment and protection of the eyes, and it might also be involved in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration and some inflammatory diseases.

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Abbreviations

AEC:

3-amino-9-ethyl-carbazole

AH:

Aqueous humor

AID:

Activation-induced cytidine deaminase

AMD:

Age-related macular degeneration

CPE:

Ciliary pigmented epithelia

FcγRs:

Fc gamma receptors

FcRn:

Neonatal Fc receptors

Igγ:

IgG Gamma chain γ

Igκ:

Ig Kappa light chain κ

Igλ:

Ig Lambda chain λ

IGHG:

Mouse IgG heavy chains

IGHG1:

Constant regions of human IgG1

IHC:

Immunohistochemistry

IPE:

Iris pigmented epithelium

ISH:

In situ hybridization

µMT:

µ chain mutated

RAG1:

Recombination activating gene -1

RAG2:

Recombination activating gene -2

RPE:

Retinal pigment epithelium

SCID:

Severe combined immune deficient

VDJн :

VDJ segment of Igγ

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (code: 30570686), Project 111 (B07001) of the Ministry of Education, China to Dr. Jiang Gu.

Conflicts of interest

No author had any conflict of interest. Dr. Jiang Gu had full access to all the data in this study and had final responsibility for the decision of publication.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China

    Na Niu, Weiwei Gao & Jiang Gu

  2. Department of Pathology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, 261042, China

    Na Niu

  3. Department of Human Anatomy, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, 261042, China

    Jie Zhang

  4. Department of Anesthesia, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, 261042, China

    Yingui Sun

  5. Department of Ophthalmology, Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, Weifang, 261031, China

    Shuna Wang

  6. Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, Weifang, 261031, China

    Yonghong Sun

  7. Department of Pathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, China

    Christine Korteweg & Jiang Gu

Authors
  1. Na Niu
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  2. Jie Zhang
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  3. Yingui Sun
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  4. Shuna Wang
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  5. Yonghong Sun
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  7. Weiwei Gao
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  8. Jiang Gu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jiang Gu.

Additional information

The first two institutions contributed equally to this study.

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Niu, N., Zhang, J., Sun, Y. et al. Expression and distribution of immunoglobulin G and its receptors in an immune privileged site: the eye. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 68, 2481–2492 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-010-0572-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-010-0572-7

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