Dan Wen , Hua Wang , Boon Chin Heng , Hua Liu
2013, 6(3):259-263. DOI: 10.3980/j.issn.2222-3959.2013.03.01
Abstract:AIM:To investigate the distribution of nestin-positive cells in pterygium, as well as the relationship between nestin-positive cells and proliferative cells in the pathogenesis of pterygium.METHODS:Nine pterygium specimens and 5 normal conjunctiva specimens were investigated. All explanted specimens were immediately immersed in 5-Ethynyl-2’-deoxyuridine, and were subjected to hematoxylin and eosin staining, as well as immunostaining to detect nestin.RESULTS:Small sub-populations of nestin-expressing cells in both normal and pterygial conjunctiva epithelium were found. These were located at the superficial layer of the epithelium, and were significantly increased (P=0.007) and spread out in the pterygial conjunctiva epithelium, even though these cells were mitotically quiescent.CONCLUSION:In pterygium, more nestin-positive cells were present at the superficial layer of the epithelium. With growing scientific evidence that nestin plays an important role in defining various specialized cell types, such as stem cells, cancer cells and angiogenic cells, further investigations on the roles of nestin-expressing cells in pterygium may help to uncover the mechanisms of initiation, development and the prognosis of this disease.
Xiao-Min Zhou , Yan Yin , Ning Fan , Hong-Bo Cheng , Xiao-Hong Li , Yun Wang , Wen-Han Yu , Su-Ping Cai , Xu-Yang Liu
2013, 6(3):264-268. DOI: 10.3980/j.issn.2222-3959.2013.03.02
Abstract:AIM:To detect the mutations in two candidate genes, myocilin (MYOC) and cytochrome P450 1B1 (CYP1B1), in a Chinese family with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG).METHODS: The family was composed of three members, the parents and a daughter. All members of the family underwent complete ophthalmologic examinations. Exons of MYOC and CYP1B1 genes were screened for sequence alterations by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct DNA sequencing.RESULTS:The mother was the proband, she was diagnosed as POAG in both eyes. Her daughter was diagnosed as juvenile-onset POAG. The father was asymptomatic. One MYOC heterozygous mutation c.1150 G>A (D384N) in exon 3 was identified in the mother, another MYOC heterozygous variation c.1058 C>T (T353I) in exon 3 was identified in the father, and the daughter inherited both of the variations. Meanwhile, three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in CYP1B1 gene were found in the family.CONCLUSION:The D384N mutation of MYOC has been reported as one of disease-causing mutations in POAG, whereas T353I variation of MYOC was thought as a high risk factor for POAG. The two variations of MYOC were first reported in one juvenile-onset POAG patient who presented with more severe clinical manifestations, suggesting that T353I polymorphism of MYOC may be associated with the severity of POAG.
Xiao-Wei Gao , Yan Fu , Wen-Jing Li , An-Jie Du , Xia Li , Xu-Dong Zhao
2013, 6(3):269-275. DOI: 10.3980/j.issn.2222-3959.2013.03.03
Abstract:AIM: To study the role of immature dendritic cells (imDCs) on immune tolerance in rat penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) in high-risk eyes and to investigate the mechanism of immune hyporesponsiveness induced by donor-derived imDCs.METHODS:Seventy-five SD rats (recipient) and 39 Wistar rats (donor) were randomly divided into 3 groups:control, imDC and mature dendritic cell (mDC) group respectively. Using a model of orthotopic corneal transplantation in which allografts were placed in neovascularized high-risk eyes of recipient rat. Corneal neovascularization was induced by alkaline burn in the central cornea of recipient rat. Recipients in imDC group or mDC group were injected donor bone marrow-derived imDCs or mDCs of 1×106 respectively 1 week before corneal transplantation via tail vein. Control rat received the same volume of PBS. In each group, 16 recipients were kept for determination of survival time and other 9 recipients were executed on day 3, 7 and 14 after transplantation. Cornea was harvested for hematoxylin-eosin staining and acute rejection evaluation, Western blot was used to detect the expression level of Foxp3.RESULTS: The mean survival time of imDC group was significantly longer than that of control and mDC groups (all P<0.05). The expression level of Foxp3 on CD4+CD25+T cells of imDC group (2.24±0.18) was significantly higher than that in the control (1.68±0.09) and mDC groups (1.46±0.13) (all P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Donor-derived imDC is an effective treatment in inducing immune hyporesponsiveness in rat PKP. The mechanism of immune tolerance induced by imDC might be inhibit T lymphocytes responsiveness by regulatory T cells.
Jiang-Yue Zhao , Feng-Feng Zhuang , Hong-Yan Wang , Di Wu , Jin-Song Zhang
2013, 6(3):276-279. DOI: 10.3980/j.issn.2222-3959.2013.03.04
Abstract:AIM: To investigate the effects of Msx2 on lens epithelium cell cycle, and evaluate the changes of the proliferation, apoptosis of lens epithelium cells.METHODS: Mice lens epithelium cells were cultured and transfected with pEGFP-Msx2 and control. Msx2-de?cient mice (Msx2-/-) lens tissue were isolated. Lens tissue and transfected cells were prepared for mRNA extraction using Trizol reagent. CyclinD1 and Prox1 expression were evaluated by real-time RT-PCR. BrdU incorporation and apoptosis rate were investigated by immunofluorescence and flow cytometry analysis.RESULTS: After transfected with pEGFP-Msx2, lens epithelium cells failed to incorporate BrdU and anti-phospho-histone-3 immunofluorescence failed to detect cell nuclei which GFP were positive. Msx2 over expression resulted in increasing apoptosis rate in lens epithelium cells. CyclinD1 and Prox1 expression increased significantly in Msx2 knockout mice by real-time RT-PCR quantization and CyclinD1 expression decreased significantly in Msx2 overexpressed cell.CONCLUSION:Msx2 has the effect of inhibiting proliferation and differentiation, triggering apoptosis on mice lens epithelium cells.