Abstract

Various fatty acids (FAs) are involved as an energy source in many different functions in the organism. They are also essential ingredients of membranous lipids and act as intracellular signaling molecules. Intracellular fatty-acid-binding proteins (FABPs) comprise a family of soluble lipid-binding proteins with low molecular masses and solubilize long-chain FAs to allow intracellular translocation in the aqueous cytosol. To clarify the functions of FABPs in the retina, which is remarkably rich in polyunsaturated FAs, we have investigated the localization of B (brain type)-, H (heart type)-, E (epidermal type)-, and A (adipocyte type)-FABPs in adult mouse retinae by immunohistochemistry. In order to determine the possible involvement of FABPs in retinal degenerative diseases, we have also examined changes in FABP expression in light-induced photoreceptor cell degeneration (photic injury). The discrete localization of B-, H-, E-, and A-FABP species in various cell populations of the retina has been clarified: B-FABP is mainly localized in the cone photoreceptor cells, H-FABP in some populations of amacrine/bipolar/horizontal interneurons, and E-FABP in ganglion cells, with A-FABP-like immunoreactivity being located in resident microglia of normal retinae. E-FABP has further been localized in invasive macrophages in damaged retinae following photic injury, allowing discrete identification of the resident microglia and invasive macrophages by A- and E-FABP immunoreactivity, respectively.