FIGURE 5.

Lectin pathway is initiated. (A) The mRNA expression levels of Masp2 were upregulated at 10 (p = 0.047), but not at 5 and 15 weeks, in βB1-CTGF mice. (B) An anti-MASP2 antibody (red) was used to label retinal cross-sections at 5, 10, and 15 weeks of age. Cell nuclei are counterstained with DAPI (blue). (C) The MASP2⁺ area was not altered in transgenic mice compared to WT at 5 and 10 weeks. At 15 weeks, a significant increase of MASP2⁺ area was revealed in βB1-CTGF animals (p = 0.04). Values for RT-qPCR are median ± quartile ± minimum/maximum (n = 5–7/group). The dotted line in panel (A) represents the relative expression of the WT group. Values for immunohistology are mean ± SEM (n = 7–9/group). GCL, ganglion cell layer; IPL, inner plexiform layer. Scale bar: 20 μm. *p < 0.05.