Decreased 3 α-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Activity in Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes from Patients with Primary Open Angle Glaucoma

• Published in: Experimental eye research Vol. 62; no. 1; pp. 39 - 46
• Main Authors: WEINSTEIN, BERNARD I., IYER, RADHA B., BINSTOCK, JUDITH M., HAMBY, CARL V., SCHWARTZ, IRA S., MOY, FRED H., WANDEL, THADDEUS, SOUTHREN, LOUIS A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Elsevier Ltd 1996; Elsevier
• Subjects: 3 α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase; 3-alpha-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase (B-Specific); 3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases - blood; 3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases - chemistry; 3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases - drug effects; Adrenergic beta-Antagonists - pharmacology; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - blood; Case-Control Studies; cortisol metabolism; dihydrocortisol; Glaucoma and intraocular pressure; glaucoma marker; Glaucoma, Open-Angle - blood; Glaucoma, Open-Angle - enzymology; Humans; Immunoblotting; lymphocytes; Lymphocytes - enzymology; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Molecular Weight; Ophthalmology; tetrahydrocortisol; glaucoma marker; tetrahydrocortisol; 3 α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase; cortisol metabolism; dihydrocortisol; lymphocytes; Human; Open angle glaucoma; Pathophysiology; Enzyme; Cortisol; Metabolism; Glucocorticoid; Eye disease; Enzymatic activity; Adrenal hormone; Oxidoreductases; 3α-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (B-specific); Lymphocyte
• ISSN: 0014-4835; 1096-0007
• DOI: 10.1006/exer.1996.0005

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) patients have reduced 3 α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 α-HSD) activity as was previously found in POAG-derived cultured trabecular meshwork cells. The availability of PBL from both POAG and control patients makes this a useful system for studying the association of decreased 3 α-HSD activity with POAG. PBL were isolated from the venous blood of 17 POAG patients and 22 non-glaucoma controls and assayed for 3 α-HSD activity with tritiated 5 β-dihydrocortisol as a substrate. The mean 3 α-HSD activity ± s.e.m.,expressed in comparable units of specific activity, of the POAG derived PBL was 13.8 ±1.3U as compared to 32.8 ±2.0U for control cells. This reduction ( >50%) was statistically significant ( P <0.001). Quantitative immunoblot analysis of PBL indicated that the POAG and control cells, despite their difference in 3 α-HSD activity, had nearly identical amounts of 3 α-HSD protein. The molecular weight of PBL 3 α-HSD from both groups of patients was 38000, the same as previously reported for human liver. The results of this study show an association of decreased PBL 3 α-HSD activity and POAG which was not related to antiglaucoma therapy. The reduced levels of 3 α-HSD activity in the readily obtainable PBL may serve as a marker for POAG or those at risk for developing the disease.