Keratocan (KERA) monoclonal antibody (mouse, clone Ker-1) to detect keratocan. 1 mL/vial. Concentration is 0.1 mg/mL. 

Normal keratocan expression in adult tissues is limited to the corneal stroma and is considered a phenotypic marker for keratocytes. In keratocan knockout mice (Kera-/-) the corneal stroma is thinner, the cornea-iris angles are narrower and the collagen fibers of the corneal stroma are disorganized when compared to wild-type animals. In humans, mutations of the keratocan gene (KERA) are associated with the human disease called Cornea plana (CNA2). This disease is characterized by a flattening of the forward convex curvature of the cornea and has been associated with glaucoma. Ultimately, this leads to a decrease in light refraction. Present research is focused on using adult stem cells to regenerate tissue and corneal transparency within knockout mice. Additionally, understanding keratocan in the corneal inflammatory response is a topic of interest.

Related Terms/Symbols:

• KERA
• CNA2
• Keratan sulfate proteoglycans (KSPGs)
• O60938
• KTN
• SLRR2B

References/Citations:

Immunolocalisation and expression of keratocan in tendon. Rees SG, Waggett AD, Kerr BC, Probert J, Gealy EC, Dent CM, Caterson B, Hughes CE. (2008) Osteoarthritis Cartilage.

Fragmentation of decorin, biglycan, lumican and keratocan is elevated in degener- ate human meniscus, knee and hip articular cartilages compared with age-matched macroscopically normal and control tissues. Melrose J, Fuller ES, Roughley PJ, Smith MM, Kerr B, Hughes CE, Caterson B, Little CB. (2008) Arthritis Res Ther. 10(4):R79.

Differential expression of the keratan sulphate proteoglycan, keratocan, during chick corneal embryogenesis. Gealy EC, Kerr BC, Young RD, Tudor D, Hayes AJ, Hughes CE, Caterson B, Quantock AJ, Ralphs JR. (2007) Histochem Cell Biol. Dec;128(6):551-5.