title: Correlation of microRNA-145 levels and clinical severity of pterygia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  MicroRNA-145 (miR-145) has known anti-tumor properties and has been reported to be involved in regulating corneal epithelium differentiation. The exact role of miR-145 in ocular tissue remains unclear. In this study, we evaluate the effect of miR-145 expression levels on pterygium properties.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ophthalmology department of a tertiary medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  : Case series study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Information regarding patient age, pterygium recurrence and pterygium severity (extension [E], vascularity [V] and thickness [T]) were gathered from records. Expression levels of miR-145 were obtained through examination of excised pterygium tissue. Correlations between age, pterygium classification, and miR-145 levels were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study evaluated 253 patients (mean age 54.1±10.8 years). As pterygium severity increased, miR-145 levels decreased. Negative correlations were also found between miR-145 expression levels and pterygium extension (E) and vascularity (V). Thickness (T) had a weak negative correlation. There was only a mild negative correlation between patient age and miR-145 levels, which was only seen in patients with primary pterygium (not recurrent ones). Additionally, miR-145 expression was significantly higher in primary samples than in recurrent ones.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We demonstrated an association between miR-145 and pterygium characteristics, consistent with its known tumor suppression effect. Because the management of pterygium is often difficult, we suggest that miR-145 should be further studied as a potential treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ke-Hung
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Chien
authors.forename: Shih-Jen
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jorn-Hon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Lin-Chung
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Woung
authors.forename: Jiann-Torng
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chang-Min
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Shih-Hwa
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chiou
authors.forename: Ching-Yao
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Cheng-Kuo
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Chao-Chien
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Chi-Hsien
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Peng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011625:Pterygium / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C541010:MIRN145 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs