Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To compare the mRNA expression pattern from lens epithelium in patients with and without Pseudoexfoliation (PEX). Methods: Presence or absence of PEX was determined preoperatively by dilated, slit lamp examination. The lens capsule was removed during capsulorhexis at the time of phacoemulsification cataract extraction (PCE), collected and snap frozen to –80°C. The experimental group consisted of 30 pooled lens capsules from PEX patients. The control group contained the same number of capsules from patients over age 60 without PEX. RNA was extracted from the capsules using RNeasy Mini kit from QIAGEN. The Affymetrix microarray was run for both groups by Expression Analysis (EA), Durham, North Carolina. Results: 6ug total RNA was obtained from the pooled capsules in each group. Total output genes from the microarray were more than 20,000. Two fold or more over expression in PEX vs. control was found in 16 genes. Conversely, there were 6 genes showing 2-fold or more under expression. The balance of genes showed either equal or slight under or over expression in each group. Conclusion: We have demonstrated that it is possible to compare lens epithelial gene expression in PEX and normal controls via DNA microarray technology.Lens capsule samples from PEX patients showed significant over or under expression of a small group of genes vs control. Additional experiments are underway to confirm these differences. Acknowledgements: Contributing surgeons: Sherif El-Defrawy, George Mintsioulis, William Rock, William Hodge, Ralf Buhrmann; Eye Institute operating room nurses.
Keywords: gene microarray • extracellular matrix • cataract