Expression of the antimicrobial peptide beta-defensin-2 in the conjunctival epithelial cells in primary open-angle glaucoma and over time in the postoperative period

• Published in: Vestnik oftal'mologii Vol. 126; no. 2; p. 19
• Main Authors: Erichev, V P, Gankovskaia, L V, Koval'chuk, L V, Gankovskaia, O A, Dugina, A E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Russian
• Published: Russia (Federation) 01.03.2010
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; beta-Defensins - analysis; beta-Defensins - biosynthesis; beta-Defensins - genetics; Conjunctiva - chemistry; Conjunctiva - cytology; Conjunctiva - metabolism; Epithelial Cells - chemistry; Epithelial Cells - metabolism; Female; Gene Expression; Glaucoma, Open-Angle - metabolism; Glaucoma, Open-Angle - surgery; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Polymerase Chain Reaction
• ISSN: 0042-465X

The time course of changes in the postoperative expression of the antimicrobial peptide beta-defensin-2 (HBD-2) in the conjunctival epithelial cells was studied in 13 patients (13 eyes) with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and 9 individuals (9 eyes) without ophthalmopathology. Scrapes from the eyelid conjunctiva and transient folds were used as a material for an immunological study. In the study group, the scrapes were taken a few hours before and at 7, 30, and 90 days after surgery. The expression of the HBD-2 gene in the study material was determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction. In the subjects without pathology of the organ of vision, the conjunctival epithelial cells exhibited HBD-2; in the patients with POAG, the baseline HBD-2 gene expression was significantly higher. The baseline HBD-2 expression did not depend on gender, the duration of local antihypertensive therapy, the stage of disease stage, and the level of ophthalmotonus. HBD-2 gene expression was by 5-10 times higher than that preoperatively in all the patients with POAG on postoperative day 7. One month after surgery, the HBD-2 gene expression considerably rose in 31% of the examined patients while it became normal in 38% of the patients.