Age-related differential expression of apoptosis-related genes in conjunctival epithelial cells.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether the expression of apoptosis-related genes in normal conjunctival epithelial cells is age-related (as a prerequisite to assessing whether dysregulation of apoptosis may be involved during degenerative diseases).


METHODS
Differential expression of apoptosis-related genes (e.g. apoptosis protease-activating factor 1 [Apaf-1]; caspases [casp] 3, 5, 8 and 9; Bad, Bax, Bcl-2, Bim, c-myc, Bag-1, as well as p53) was assessed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Samples were obtained from impression cytology (IC) specimens taken from 50 healthy subjects. Group A comprised 27 subjects aged 19-32 years and group B included 23 subjects aged 53-84 years.


RESULTS
Reverse transcription-PCR revealed the detection of apoptosis-related m-RNAs as follows (group A compared to group B): Apaf-1 0%/0%; Bcl-2 0%/35%; Bim 0%/9%; Bag-1 0%/9%; p53 0%/4%; casp-3 11%/52%; casp-5 59%/48%; casp-8 44%/22%; casp-9 4%/9%; Bax 81%/52%; Bad 96%/56%, and c-myc 89%/96%.


CONCLUSIONS
The data show an age-related expression of apoptosis-related genes such as casp-3, Bad, Bax and Bcl-2 in normal conjunctival cells. These results provide basic information which will help us understand the expression pattern of apoptotic genes during physiological ageing of the conjunctiva and the possible dysregulation of apoptotic genes during acute and chronic diseases such as dry eye disease, allergic conjunctivitis or cicatrizing conjunctivitis.
Giebel
Jürgen
J
Institute of Anatomy, Ernst Moritz Arndt University, Greifswald, Germany.
Woenckhaus
Christian
C
Fabian
Michael
M
Tost
Frank
F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics*; D053477:Apoptotic Protease-Activating Factor 1; D020169:Caspases / Q000235:genetics; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics
C506592:APAF1 protein, human; D053477:Apoptotic Protease-Activating Factor 1; D011506:Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D020169:Caspases