title: A feasible tool to detect mRNA expression of matrix metalloproteinases and their tissue inhibitors in human Tenon's capsule.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the mRNA expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) in human specimens of Tenon's capsule.
  
  
  METHODS
  Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with specific primers for MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 was performed on tissue specimens obtained from patients with cataract, rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, glaucoma, or diabetes mellitus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) mRNA transcripts were detected in 26 (76.5%) of 34 specimens, with almost the same amount of expression in each of these samples. Messenger RNA expression of one or more of the MMPs/TIMPs could also be detected in all of these 26 samples, but not in any sample without GAPDH expression. MMP-2, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 were detected in 25 (96.2%) of the 26 samples with GAPDH expression, while MMP-1 and MMP-9 were detected with a lower percentage (34.6 and 19.2%, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The feasibility of RT- PCR with GAPDH as an internal standard to determine mRNA transcripts of the MMPs and TIMPs in the subconjunctival Tenon's capsule was demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Research, Chi-Mei Foundation Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yu-Lun
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Catherine J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Allen W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Yun-Chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Steven K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Huan
authors.forename: Fenq-Lih
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Shih-Jen
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wen-Ming
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Shie-Liang
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Hsieh
mesh_terms: D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000378:metabolism; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D005123:Eye / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases