Collagen XV II and BPAG1 expression in the retina: Evidence for an anchoring complex in the central nervous system

• Published in: Journal of comparative neurology (1911) 2005-06, Vol.487 (2), p.190-203
• Main Authors: Claudepierre, Thomas, Manglapus, Mary K, Marengi, Nathan, Radner, Stephanie, Champliaud, Marie-France, Tasanen, Kaisa, Bruckner-Tuderman, Leena, Hunter, Dale D, Brunken, William J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0021-9967; 1096-9861
• DOI: 10.1002/cne.20549

The ectoderm gives rise not only to the skin but also to the entire CNS. This common embryonic lineage suggests that some molecular isoforms might serve analogous functions in both tissues. Indeed, not only are laminins important components of dermal adhesion mechanisms, but they also regulate some aspects of synaptic development in both the CNS and the PNS. In the skin, laminins are part of a hemidesmosome complex essential for basal keratinocyte adhesion that includes collagen XV II (BP180) and BPAG1 (dystonin/BP230). Here, we show that CNS neurons also express collagen XV II and BPAG1 and that these molecules are expressed in the adult and developing retina. In the retina, isoforms of collagen XV II and BPAG1 are colocalized with laminins at photoreceptor synapses and around photoreceptor outer segments; both molecules are expressed by rods, whereas cones express collagen XV II but not BPAG1. Moreover, biochemical data demonstrate that collagen XV II complexes with retinal laminins. We propose that collagen XV II and BPAG1 isoforms may help to anchor elements of the rod photoreceptor cytomatrix to the extracellular matrix.