Zinc finger protein in severe dry eye syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
Zinc finger protein known to induce squamous metaplasia and regulate vitamin A expression has been few investigated as tear protein. We investigated tear protein variations in patients with dry eye syndrome (DES).


METHODS
Tears from healthy subjects as control and patients with DES were collected. Tear proteins were separated by one-dimensional electrophoresis. The protein bands were analyzed by nano liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.


RESULTS
Compared to the controls, significant down-regulation of lactoferrin and lysozyme was detected, while significant up-regulation was observed for serum albumin in patients with DES. DES grade 4 patients showed different protein patterns. Zinc-finger motif-enhancer binding-protein-1 gamma and bromodomain adjacent to zinc finger domain 2B were detected in DES grade 4 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Tear protein changes are valuable to diagnosis DES. Zinc finger proteins may be associated with pathophysiology of severe DES. Further studies are needed to better understand the relationship of zinc finger proteins in tear of patients with DES.
Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University Hospital , Heukseok-dong, Dongjak-Gu, Seoul , South Korea and.
Seung Hoon
SH
Lee
Min-Yi
MY
Park
Kyoung Woo
KW
Kim
Sung Wook
SW
Wee
Jae Chan
JC
Kim
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013666:Tears / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult; D016335:Zinc Fingers / Q000502:physiology*
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D005136:Eye Proteins; C544166:ZFAND2B protein, human; C042434:tear proteins