Figure 1. Expression of caspase-14 in the retinal cells. Western blot analysis of retinal cell lysates showed that caspase-14 is present (A) and is processed under reduced conditions in the presence of β-mercaptoethanol (B) in different retinal cells including pericytes (PCs), endothelial cells (RECs), pigment epithelium (RPE) cells, and astrocytes (ACs). Lung ECs and trabecular meshwork (TM) cells also expressed caspase-14. qPCR analysis of caspase-14 mRNA (C) demonstrated the presence of caspase-14 mRNA in the same cells and in choroidal ECs. Please note the higher expression of caspase-14 in PC and RPE cells compared to other retinal cells. The cell culture experiments were repeated using two different isolations with similar results.