Gene Expression analysis of atopic cataract

Abstract

Purpose : To clarify the pathophysiology of atopic cataract, we carried out genomewide expression analysis and further examined the roles of differentially expressed genes.

Methods : Four anterior capsules were obtained from atopic cataract patients with subcapsular cataract formation. Total RNA was extracted and genome wide gene expression analysis was carried out using Agilent SurePrint Human Gene Expression array. Anterior capsular tissue obtained from senile cataract patients were used as control. Realtime PCR and immunohistochemical analysis were performed using additional samples.

Results : The results of genomewide gene expression analysis showed 57 genes (including TNFRSF12A and MGP) were hyperexpressed (P<0.05), and 58 genes (including CRIP1) were hypoexpressed (P<0.05) in the anterior capsule of atopic cataract. Among the detected genes, increase of matrix gla protein (MGP) expression is confirmed using replicative samples by realtime PCR analysis. We further examined immunohistochemical localization of carboxylated MGP (suppressor of tissue calcification) and uncarboxylated (uc)MGP (lost the suppressive function of tissue calcification) protein and find that ucMGP accumulated only in the anterior stromal opacity region.

Conclusions : Alteration of MGP gene expression and conformational changes of MGP protein may be relevant to anterior subcapsular cataract induced by atopic diseases.

This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2017 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Baltimore, MD, May 7-11, 2017.