Figure 2.

Evidence of LCN2-mediated inflammation in RPE of cKO mice: (A) Western analysis shows significant upregulation of lipocalin-2 protein in older cKO mice compared to age-matched controls. No significant change was found in younger animals. (B) In 12-month-old retina sections stained with GFAP antibody (green), staining is limited to the GCL in Cryba1 ^fl/fl retina, characteristic of astrocytes (left panel, arrows). In the cKO retina (right panel), additional staining of Muller glia processes (arrows) indicates Muller cell activation. Bar = 10 μm. (C) qRT–PCR shows significant upregulation of CCL2 mRNA in older cKO mice (12 months) compared to the younger animals (4 month). (D) Consistent with the PCR results, protein levels of CCL2 were upregulated in older cKO mice compared to age-matched controls. (E) Retinal flat mounts stained with Iba1 antibody appear denser with extended processes in the cKO mice compared to Cryba1^fl/fl. Bar = 30 μm (*P ≤ 0.05).