title: Expression of WW domain-containing oxidoreductase WWOX in pterygium.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pterygium was traditionally regarded as a degenerative disease, but certain characteristics suggest that pterygium is probably premalignant tissue. The human WWOX gene, encoding the WW domain containing oxidoreductase (WWOX, FOR, or WOX1), is a candidate tumor suppressor gene. In this study, we investigated the WWOX gene and protein expression in pterygium.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pterygium tissues were obtained from patients (n=16, primary=8, recurrent=8) who received surgical excisions. Each tissue sample was further divided into head and body regions. The WWOX gene and protein expression were examined with immunohistochemistry, western blot, and quantitative PCR. For comparison, normal superior temporal bulbar conjunctivas were used as controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to the controls, upregulation of WWOX and its Tyr33 phosphorylation was observed in the head region of all pterygium specimens. In the head and body of the pterygium specimens, WWOX expression was significantly higher than in the controls. In addition, WWOX expression was stronger in recurrent pterygia than in primary pterygia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased WWOX expression, especially in the head region, is probably due to the invasiveness of the pterygium. Our results indicate that WWOX may play a role in pterygium progression and recurrence.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan ; Department of Ophthalmology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yi-Hsun
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Nan-Shan
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Sung-Huei
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Tseng
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011625:Pterygium / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012008:Recurrence; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation; D000074584:WW Domain-Containing Oxidoreductase
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D000074584:WW Domain-Containing Oxidoreductase; C486071:WWOX protein, human