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Choi Y, Samad I, Chakravarthy H, Matsubara J, Granville DJ, Yeung SN. Granzyme B Expression in Conjunctiva of Patients with Pterygium. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:8679. [PMID: 39201366 PMCID: PMC11354738 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25168679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2024] [Revised: 07/28/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 09/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Pterygium is often associated with chronic ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure and characterized by the overgrowth of conjunctiva and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. Notably, several studies in the skin have demonstrated that chronic UV radiation can upregulate Granzyme B (GrB) expression and increase ECM degradation. The aim of this study was to compare GrB expression between pterygium and healthy controls and to further link this GrB expression to mast cells. Post-mortem pterygium tissues and conjunctival tissues from age-matched controls were used to assess GrB expression via immunofluorescence and microscopy. We found a significantly higher density of GrB+ cells from pterygium specimens compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, many of the GrB+ cells in pterygium specimens co-expressed tryptase, a mast cell marker. These findings suggest a role for conjunctival mast cell-secreted GrB in the pathogenesis of pterygium and highlight GrB as a possible therapeutic target in delaying or halting pterygium progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoojin Choi
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Isa Samad
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V5Z 3N9, Canada
| | - Harshini Chakravarthy
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V5Z 3N9, Canada
| | - Joanne Matsubara
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V5Z 3N9, Canada
| | - David J. Granville
- ICORD Centre and Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 2B5, Canada
| | - Sonia N. Yeung
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V5Z 3N9, Canada
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Meyer KJ, Fingert JH, Anderson MG. Lack of evidence for GWAS signals of exfoliation glaucoma working via monogenic loss-of-function mutation in the nearest gene. Hum Mol Genet 2024:ddae088. [PMID: 38770563 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddae088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Exfoliation syndrome (XFS) is a systemic disease of elastin-rich tissues involving a deposition of fibrillar exfoliative material (XFM) in the anterior chamber of the eye, which can promote glaucoma. The purpose of this study was to create mice with CRISPR/Cas9-induced variations in candidate genes identified from human genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and screen them for indices of XFS. METHODS Variants predicted to be deleterious were sought in the Agpat1, Cacna1a, Loxl1, Pomp, Rbms3, Sema6a, and Tlcd5 genes of C57BL/6J mice using CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing. Strains were phenotyped by slit-lamp, SD-OCT imaging, and fundus exams at 1-5 mos of age. Smaller cohorts of 12-mos-old mice were also studied. RESULTS Deleterious variants were identified in six targets; Pomp was recalcitrant to targeting. Multiple alleles of some targets were isolated, yielding 12 strains. Across all genotypes and ages, 277 mice were assessed by 902 slit-lamp exams, 928 SD-OCT exams, and 358 fundus exams. Homozygosity for Agpat1 or Cacna1a mutations led to early lethality; homozygosity for Loxl1 mutations led to pelvic organ prolapse, preventing aging. Loxl1 homozygotes exhibited a conjunctival phenotype of potential relevance to XFS. Multiple other genotype-specific phenotypes were variously identified. XFM was not observed in any mice. CONCLUSIONS This study did not detect XFM in any of the strains. This may have been due to species-specific differences, background dependence, or insufficient aging. Alternatively, it is possible that the current candidates, selected based on proximity to GWAS signals, are not effectors acting via monogenic loss-of-function mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kacie J Meyer
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Iowa, 51 Newton Rd, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States
- Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, 375 Newton Rd, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States
| | - John H Fingert
- Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, 375 Newton Rd, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, 200 Hawkins Dr, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States
| | - Michael G Anderson
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Iowa, 51 Newton Rd, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States
- Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa, 375 Newton Rd, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, 200 Hawkins Dr, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States
- Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Iowa City VA Health Care System, 601 Hwy 6 W, Iowa City, IA 52246, United States
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Saracaloğlu A, Demiryürek Ş, Güngör K, Düzen B, Eronat Ö, Temiz E, Demiryürek AT. Expression Analysis of the Small GTP-Binding Protein Rac in Pterygium. Turk J Ophthalmol 2023; 53:343-348. [PMID: 38014881 PMCID: PMC10750086 DOI: 10.4274/tjo.galenos.2023.93765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives To determine the roles of small GTP-binding proteins Rac1, Rac2, and Rac3 expression in pterygial tissue and to compare these expressions with normal conjunctival tissue. Materials and Methods Seventy-eight patients with primary pterygium were enrolled. Healthy conjunctival graft specimens obtained during pterygium surgery were used as control tissue. The real-time polymerase chain reaction method on the BioMark HD dynamic array system was utilized in genomic mRNA for the gene expression analysis. Protein expressions were analyzed using western blot and immunohistochemical methods. Results RAC1, RAC2, and RAC3 gene expressions in pterygial tissues were not markedly elevated when compared to the control specimens (p>0.05). As a very low level of RAC1 gene expression was observed, further protein expression analysis was performed for the Rac2 and Rac3 proteins. Western blot and immunohistochemical analysis of Rac2 and Rac3 protein expression revealed no significant differences between pterygial and healthy tissues (p>0.05). Conclusion This is the first study to identify the contribution of Rac proteins in pterygium. Our results indicate that the small GTP-binding protein Rac may not be involved in pterygium pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmet Saracaloğlu
- Gaziantep University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Pharmacology, Gaziantep, Türkiye
| | - Şeniz Demiryürek
- Gaziantep University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physiology, Gaziantep, Türkiye
| | - Kıvanç Güngör
- Gaziantep University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Gaziantep, Türkiye
| | - Betül Düzen
- Gaziantep Dr. Ersin Arslan Training and Research Hospital, Clinic Ophthalmology, Gaziantep, Türkiye
| | - Ömer Eronat
- Gaziantep University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Gaziantep, Türkiye
| | - Ebru Temiz
- Harran University Health Services Vocational School, Medical Promotion and Marketing, Şanlıurfa, Türkiye
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Gong Y, Liao YH, Yi QY, Li M, Chen LS, Wang YY. Nintedanib induces apoptosis in human pterygium cells through the FGFR2-ERK signalling pathway. Int J Ophthalmol 2023; 16:505-513. [PMID: 37077497 PMCID: PMC10089899 DOI: 10.18240/ijo.2023.04.03] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM To investigate whether nintedanib can inhibit pterygium cells through the fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2)/extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway. METHODS Human primary pterygium cells were cultured in vitro. After treatment with nintedanib, the cell morphology was observed under microscopy, the morphological changes of the nucleus were observed after DAPI staining, apoptosis was analyzed by Annexin-V FITC/PI double staining, and the changes of apoptosis-associated proteins were detected by Western blot. The binding ability of nintedanib to FGFR2 was predicted by molecular docking. Finally, by silencing FGFR2, we explored whether nintedanib inhibited FGFR2/ERK pathway. RESULTS The results showed that nintedanib inhibited the growth of pterygium cells and caused nuclear pyknosis. The results of Annexin-VFITC/PI double staining showed that nintedanib was able to induce early and late apoptosis of pterygium cells, significantly increasing the expression of apoptosis-associated proteins Bax and cleaved-Caspase3 (P<0.05), and reducing the expression of Bcl-2 (P<0.05). In addition, nintedanib significantly inhibited ERK1/2 phosphorylation through FGFR2 (P<0.05). After silencing the expression of FGFR2, there was no significant difference in the inhibition of ERK1/2 phosphorylation by nintedanib (P>0.05). CONCLUSION Nintedanib induces apoptosis of pterygium cells by inhibiting FGFR2/ERK pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Gong
- Ningbo Eye Hospital, Ningbo 315042, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yan-Hong Liao
- Ningbo Eye Hospital, Ningbo 315042, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Quan-Yong Yi
- Ningbo Eye Hospital, Ningbo 315042, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Meng Li
- Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315021, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Li-Shuang Chen
- Ningbo Eye Hospital, Ningbo 315042, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yan-Yan Wang
- Ningbo Eye Hospital, Ningbo 315042, Zhejiang Province, China
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Masitas C, Peng Z, Wang M, Konai MM, Avila-Cobian LF, Lemieux L, Hovanesian J, Grady JE, Mobashery S, Chang M. Matrix Metalloproteinase-14 as an Instigator of Fibrosis in Human Pterygium and Its Pharmacological Intervention. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2022; 5:555-561. [DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.2c00125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Cesar Masitas
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Zhihong Peng
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Man Wang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Mohini Mohan Konai
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Luis F. Avila-Cobian
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Leslie Lemieux
- Harvard Eye Associates, Laguna Hills, California 92653, United States
| | - John Hovanesian
- Harvard Eye Associates, Laguna Hills, California 92653, United States
| | - James E. Grady
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Shahriar Mobashery
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Mayland Chang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
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