[Gene expression in keratoconus. Initial results using DNA microarrays].
BACKGROUND
Keratoconus is a non-inflammatory ocular disease characterised by conical deformation, progressive thinning and scarring of the central cornea. Despite intensive investigations, the exact cause of the disease still remains unclear. Clinical studies provide strong indications of a major genetic role in the aetiology. We set out to examine the involvement in the manifestation of keratoconus of any of the 5,600 gene specificities available on the Affymetrix GeneChip HuGeneFL.


METHODS
After examination of two corneas they were stored in RNAlater, RNA was extracted and hybridised on the chips. Using a combination of dyes it was possible to read the chips with laser detection and to visualise the gene expression pattern.


RESULTS
We found an upregulation of collagens, versican, metalloproteinases and cell adhesion proteins. A downregulation was observed for TIGR protein, cytokeratins, eyes absent homologue (Eab1) and the proteins for radical treatment selenoprotein P and monooxygenase.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that keratoconus is a process in which repair and scar-formation mechanisms operate at the same time. As candidate genes for this mechanism, collagen IV and related proteoglycans were favoured.
Bochert
A
A
Universitäts-Augen- und Poliklinik, Universität Rostock.
Berlau
J
J
Koczan
D
D
Seitz
B
B
Thiessen
H J
HJ
Guthoff
R
R
D002921:Cicatrix / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D024141:Collagen Type IV / Q000235:genetics; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology; D016039:Corneal Transplantation; D004260:DNA Repair / Q000235:genetics; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D007640:Keratoconus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics
D024141:Collagen Type IV; D005136:Eye Proteins; D011509:Proteoglycans; D012333:RNA, Messenger