RESUMO
PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to investigate the expression of selected genes encoding enzymes involved in the antioxidant defense system (superoxide dismutase 2, SOD2; aldehyde dehydrogenase 1, ALDH1A1; microsomal glutathione S-transferase 1, MGST1) in fragments of anterior lens capsules of patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX). The specificity and sensitivity of these molecular markers for PEX development were also assessed. METHODS: The study group consisted of 20 patients (9 women and 11 men) with diagnosed PEX and cataract. The control group included 23 patients (8 women and 15 men) who needed cataract surgery but did not have PEX. Quantification of SOD2, ALDH1A1, and MGST1 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) was performed with quantitative real-time PCR. RESULTS: SOD2, ALDH1A1, and MGST1 mRNAs were detected in all studied samples. The examined genes had statistically significant higher expression in the group of patients with PEX than in the control group (SOD2, p=0.0015; ALDH1A1, p=0.0001; MGST1, p=0.0001, Mann-Whitney U test). The areas under the curve (AUC) of SOD2, MGST1, and ALDH1A1 were 0.766, 0.818, and 0.957, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Differential expression of SOD2, ALDH1A1, and MGST1 genes in the anterior lens capsules of patients with PEX suggest that diseased tissue appears to respond to the previously reported oxidative stress. A possible role of ALDH1A1 mRNA level as a risk factor or marker for PEX needs further confirmation.
Assuntos
Aldeído Desidrogenase/genética , Cápsula Anterior do Cristalino/enzimologia , Epitélio/enzimologia , Síndrome de Exfoliação/enzimologia , Síndrome de Exfoliação/genética , Glutationa Transferase/genética , Superóxido Dismutase/genética , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Aldeído Desidrogenase/metabolismo , Família Aldeído Desidrogenase 1 , Cápsula Anterior do Cristalino/patologia , Biomarcadores/metabolismo , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Epitélio/patologia , Síndrome de Exfoliação/diagnóstico , Feminino , Regulação Enzimológica da Expressão Gênica , Glutationa Transferase/metabolismo , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , RNA Mensageiro/genética , RNA Mensageiro/metabolismo , Curva ROC , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase em Tempo Real , Retinal Desidrogenase , Superóxido Dismutase/metabolismoRESUMO
PURPOSE: To determine and compare the expression of caspase-3 and caspase-9 in human lens epithelial cells of cataract patients with and without diabetic retinopathy (DR). SETTING: St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea. DESIGN: Randomized prospective study. METHODS: Patients were classified into 3 groups as follows: patients without diabetes mellitus (DM) (Group 1), patients with DM but without DR (Group 2), and patients with DM and DR (Group 3). An anterior capsulotomy specimen was obtained from each patient during cataract surgery, and immunohistochemical staining was performed for caspase-3 and caspase-9. The results were observed using confocal microscopy and were analyzed by reactivity scoring. The duration of DM and the hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels were recorded. RESULTS: The study evaluated 60 patients. The level of caspase-3 and caspase-9 expression was highest in Group 3 followed by Group 2 and Group 1 (both P < .00). Expression of caspase-3 and caspase-9 was higher with a longer duration of DM and with higher HbA1c levels. CONCLUSION: The intrinsic apoptotic pathway may be associated with diabetic cataract in patients with type 2 DM. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.