Expression of VEGF-A, Otx homeobox and p53 family genes in proliferative vitreoretinopathy.
BACKGROUND
Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) is a severe inflammatory complication of retinal detachment. Pathological epiretinal membranes grow on the retina surface leading to contraction, and surgery fails in 5% to 10% of the cases. We evaluated the expression of VEGF-A, Otx1, Otx2, Otx3, and p53 family members from PVR specimens to correlate their role in inducing or preventing the pathology.


METHODS
Twelve retinal samples were taken from patients affected by PVR during therapeutic retinectomies in vitreoretinal surgery. Gene expression was evaluated using quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase PCR analysis and immunohistochemistry, using four healthy human retinae as control.


RESULTS
Controls showed basal expression of all genes. PVR samples showed little or no expression of Otx1 and variable expression of VEGF-A, Otx2, Otx3, p53, and p63 genes. Significant correlation was found among VEGF-A, Otx2, p53, and p63 and between Otx1 and Otx3.


CONCLUSIONS
Otx homeobox, p53 family, and VEGF-A genes are expressed in PVR human retina. We individuated two possible pathways (VEGF-A, Otx2, p53, p63 and Otx1 and Otx3) involved in PVR progression that could influence in different manners the course of the pathology. Individuating the genetic pathways of PVR represents a novel approach to PVR therapies.
Department of Surgical and Morphological Sciences, Section of Ophthalmology, University of Insubria, Ospedale di Circolo, Via F. Guicciardini 9, 21100 Varese, Italy.
Claudio
C
Azzolini
Ilaria Stefania
IS
Pagani
Cristina
C
Pirrone
Davide
D
Borroni
Simone
S
Donati
Muna
M
Al Oum
Diana
D
Pigni
Anna Maria
AM
Chiaravalli
Riccardo
R
Vinciguerra
Francesca
F
Simonelli
Giovanni
G
Porta
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005801:Genes, Homeobox; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051857:Otx Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D012160:Retina / Q000378:metabolism*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*; D018630:Vitreoretinopathy, Proliferative / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000378:metabolism
C497659:OTX2 protein, human; D051857:Otx Transcription Factors; C495901:TP53 protein, human; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A