Lack of Immunoglobulins Does Not Prevent C1q Binding to RGC and Does Not Alter the Progression of Experimental Glaucoma

PURPOSE. The degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGC) in the glaucomatous retina is accompanied by activation of the classical complement cascade. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether complement component C1q binding and activation of the complement cascade in the glaucomatous retina requires the presence of immunoglobulins. METHODS. Experimental glaucoma was induced in normal mice and those carrying a targeted deletion of the RAG1 gene. Binding of C1q to RGC and accumulation of C3 and C5b-9 was investigated using immunohistochemical and proteomic approaches. Damage to the optic nerve and RGC was determined and compared between the two strains. Complement activation and accumulation were also evaluated in vitro using dissociated retinal cell cultures. RESULTS. C1q was detected in the RGC layer in both RAG1 � /� and control mice with elevated IOP, but not in mice with normal IOP. Proteomic analysis of retinal membrane fractions indicated that C1q and C3 are membrane bound to a similar degree in RAG1 � /� and control mice with elevated IOP. The absence of Ig does not affect the rate of axonal damage or RGC loss. Furthermore, cultured RGC maintained in serum-free media are also C1q and C3 immunoreactive, demonstrating that Ig is not required for C1q binding to damaged RGC. CONCLUSIONS. Our data demonstrate that lack of immunoglobulins and mature T/B cells does not influence the progression of glaucoma. Furthermore, immunoglobulins do not appear to be required for C1q binding and complement cascade activation on damaged RGC. These findings suggest that C1q recognizes an alternative binding partner expressed by stressed RGC. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2012;53:6370‐6377) DOI: 10.1167/iovs.12-10442