title: Gene Expression Analysis of the Irrigation Solution Samples Collected during Vitrectomy for Idiopathic Epiretinal Membrane.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The analysis of gene expression in idiopathic epiretinal membranes (iERMs) may help elucidate ERM formation and its pathology. Here, we conducted a case-control study, in order to determine the expression levels of cytokines and other genes in eyes with macular hole (MH) or iERM.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty eyes, obtained from seven male and 13 female patients, were included in the study. The average age of the study subjects was 69.1 ± 7.67 years, and 15 eyes had iERM, while five eyes had MH. Irrigation solution samples were collected during vitrectomy, centrifuged, and the levels of cytokine and other mRNAs in the sediment were assessed using real-time PCR. The expression level of 11 cytokine genes, four transcription factor genes, two cytoskeletal genes, and genes encoding two extracellular matrix proteins in eyes with MH or iERM were determined and compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression levels of interleukin 6 (IL6), tumor growth factor B2 (TGFB2), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), chemokine C-X-C motif ligand 1 (CXCL1), v-rel avian reticuloendotheliosis viral oncogene homolog A (RELA), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and tenascin C (TNC) were significantly higher in eyes with iERM than in eyes with MH. The expression of these genes was not associated with the preoperative visual acuity of the investigated patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The obtained results indicate that real-time PCR analysis of irrigation solution samples collected during vitrectomy can help assess the expression levels of several genes, and that iERM is associated with the expression of pro-inflammatory genes and the genes expressed during angiogenesis and wound healing process (IL6, TGFB2, VEGFA, CXCL1, RELA, GFAP, and TNC).
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
authors.forename: Sayaka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Myojin
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
authors.forename: Takeru
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5983-7193
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshimura
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
authors.forename: Shigeo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
authors.forename: Atsunobu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takeda
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
authors.forename: Yusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.affiliation: Section of Ophthalmology, Department of Medicine, Fukuoka Dental College, 2-15-1 Tamura, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka 814-0193, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kawano
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Oshima
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
authors.forename: Tatsuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishibashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
authors.forename: Koh-Hei
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Sonoda
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics; D019773:Epiretinal Membrane / Q000235:genetics* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012167:Retinal Perforations / Q000235:genetics* / Q000601:surgery*; D019063:Tenascin / Q000235:genetics; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000379:methods*; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA / Q000235:genetics; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics; D014821:Vitrectomy / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D019063:Tenascin; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A