Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate the expression of a gene recently associated with pseudoexfoliation syndrome in affected ocular tissue i.e. lens capsule specimens.
Methods: :
Duke University IRB approval was obtained for this study and all patients gave informed consent. Specimens from patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome (XFS), pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (XFG), and normal controls were included in this study. Normal tissue was age, sex, and ethnically matched. Lens capsules were collected at the time of cataract surgery and immediately stored in RNAlater. Total RNA was isolated from individual lens capsule samples. Primers flanking the sixth exon of the LOXL1 gene were selected and optimized. Real time PCR was performed using B-actin as a contol.
Results: :
A total of twelve samples were analyzed using four specimens each of XFS, XFG, and normal lens capsules. LOXL1 gene expression was detected in the lens capsule specimens from each of the three groups of patients. Relative to control tissue, gene expression was 1.4 (SD 0.15) and 1.1 (SD 0.14) times higher in XFS and XFG lens capsules, respectively. The p-values using Student's t-test were not significantly different between normals in the XFS and XFG groups.
Conclusions: :
No statistically significant difference in LOXL1 gene expression was detected in the pseudoexfoliation samples. This may be due to the limited sample size of the study. The role of LOXL1 in the pathogenesis of pseudoexfoliation syndrome needs further investigation.
Keywords: gene/expression • genetics • anterior chamber