[Molecular aspects of alterations in normal normal conjunctival epithelium. Role of apoptosis-associated genes].
BACKGROUND
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the age-dependent physiological expression pattern of apoptosis-related genes in the normal conjunctiva.


METHODS
Healthy probands (group A: 24 probands and group B: 24 probands) were subjected to modified impression cytology using a PTFE membrane for evaluation of age-dependent expression of apoptosis-related genes in the normal conjunctiva. RNA was isolated from the cytologic impression specimens and used for cDNA synthesis employing SuperScriptTM II reverse transcriptase.


RESULTS
RT-PCR revealed the detection of apoptosis-related mRNAs as follows (group A compared to group B): Apaf-1: 4.2/4.2%, Bcl-2: 41.7/41.7%, Bim: 0/0%, Bag-1: 70.8/100%, p53: 0/8.3%, Casp-3: 4.2/66.7%, Casp-5: 70.8/37.5%, Casp-8: 62.5/20.8%, Casp-9: 25/12.5%, c-myc: 83.3/95.8%, BAX: 91.7/70.8%, and BAD: 95.8/87.5%.


CONCLUSIONS
The results revealed an age-dependent expression of apoptosis-associated genes (proapoptotic: Casp-3, Casp-5, Casp-8, antiapoptotic Bag-1) in normal human conjunctiva. Taken together these investigations provide basic information to understand the expression of apoptosis-associated genes in various diseases of the conjunctiva.
Tost
F H W
FH
Klinik und Poliklinik für Augenheilkunde, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt Universität, Greifswald. Tost@uni-greifswald.de
Lehnigk
U
U
Maile
S
S
Fabian
M
M
Giebel
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D020169:Caspases; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000502:physiology*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D020169:Caspases
Molekulare Aspekte der Alterung des normalen Bindehautepithels Zur Bedeutung apoptoseassoziierter Gene.