Figure 4

Immunostaining of flat mounts of Descemet's membranes (DMs) obtained from subjects with and without FECD (Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy). (A) In the control sample, weak perinuclear staining of the fibrinogen α chain was sporadically observed in the non-FECD-DM. Arrows indicate the perinuclear expression of the fibrinogen α chain. In the FECD-DMs, the fibrinogen α chain was clearly stained at the outer surface of the guttae. Asterisks indicate guttae in the FECD-DM. (B) In the non-FECD-DM, no staining was observed. Hemoglobin subunit α showed staining at the outer surface of the guttae in the FECD-DMs. (C) In the non-FECD samples, no staining of sushi repeat containing protein x-linked 2 (SRPX2) was observed. In the FECD-DMs, SRPX2 was stained at the surface of the guttae and on the DM close to the guttae. (D) In the non-FECD-DM, no staining of tenascin-C was observed. In the FECD-DMs, tenascin-C was stained at the surface of the guttae, and the dot-like staining pattern was also observed on the DM close to the guttae. (E) In the non-FECD-DM, no staining of hemoglobin subunit γδεβ was observed. In the FECD-DMs, hemoglobin subunit γδεβ was stained at the surface of the guttae and on the DM close to the guttae. The nuclei were counterstained with DAPI. Immunostaining of each protein was repeated in the DM obtained from 3 patients with FECD and 3 non-FECD (control) donors, and images of 3 patients with FECD and representative images of the control are shown. The scale bars correspond to 20 µm.