Abstract
Purpose:
Pterygium cells are know to exhibit altered lipid metabolism characteristics. Some of the disregulated molecules in pterygium tissue related to inflammatory and proliferative process are mainly expressed in adipose tissue. In this study we compared the gene expression pattern between adipose and pterygium cells in order to stablish the usefulness of adipose cells in the research of new therapeutic targets for pterygium.
Methods:
Eleven samples of adipose cells and eight of pterygium cells ran with the same platform were obtained from GEO database. The average of difference expression between samples was calculated and a list of 535 genes with significant difference (P value above 0.01) was obtained. An over-representation analysis was made in order to elucidate related gene ontology, pathways and protein interactions.
Results:
Among the 535 significant different genes, the nuclear transcription factor X-box binding 1 (P value = 7.5x10-2), present in pterygium cells, was related to a transcriptional repressor capable of regulating the duration of an inflammatory response. LY6/PLAUR domain containing 3 (P value = 1.1x10-13), related to cell migration and tumor progression, was present in both cell types. CUL7 (P value = 3.8x10-2) gene was related to the E3 ubiquitin ligase, an ubiquitin-proteasome system, was only present in pterygium cells. Similarly, ENTPD4 (P value = 1.0x10-2), was only present in pterygium cells and was related to the hydrolysis of nucleosides on its components. SOD1 (P value = 4.2x10-2) presence was diminished in pterygium cells. This enzyme is related to catalysis process in the dismutation of the toxic superoxide radical. On the other hand, SEC14L3 (P value = 6.3x10-4), related to a phosphatidylinositol transfer essential for biogenesis of golgi-derived transport vesicles, was only present in adipose cells.
Conclusions:
We found marked differences between the gene expression pattern of adipocytes and pterygium cells, mainly in genes related to inflammation and ubiquitination processes. However adipocytes and pterygium cells expressed common genes related to proliferation and migration processes. This analysis provides a general idea of the genetic pattern similatities and differences between the two cell types. Further studies with more samples will elucidate specific adipocyte molecules useful for the research of new therapeutic targets for pterygium.