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Laboratory science
Vascular endothelial growth factor gene polymorphism and protein expression in the pathogenesis of pterygium
  1. Mei-Ling Peng1,2,
  2. Yi-Yu Tsai3,
  3. Jai-Nien Tung1,3,4,
  4. Chun-Chi Chiang3,
  5. Ying-Cher Huang6,
  6. Huei Lee4,
  7. Ya-Wen Cheng4
  1. 1Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
  2. 2Department of Ophthalmology, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
  3. 3Department of Ophthalmology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
  4. 4Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
  5. 5Department of Neurosurgery, Tungs' Taichung MetroHarbor Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
  6. 6School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
  1. Correspondence to Professor Y-W Cheng, Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, 12F, No 3, Sec 4, Bade Rd, Nangang Dist, Taipei 115, Taiwan; ywc{at}tmu.edu.tw

Abstract

Background and aims Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene expression has been linked to cancer progression. Here we hypothesise that the polymorphism and protein expression of VEGF are correlated with the pathogenesis and therapy response of pterygium.

Methods 60 pterygial and 121 normal conjunctival samples were collected to determine the genotypes and protein expression of VEGF. Primary pterygium cells (PECs) were used to confirm the effect of the VEGF polymorphism on the angiogenesis of pterygium.

Results 48 (83.3%) pterygial specimens tested positive for VEGF protein expression, which was significantly higher than in the control groups (16.7%, p<0.0001). The frequency of the 936 C>T variant, but not the −2578C>A variant, was significantly higher in the pterygium group compared with the control group. VEGF protein expression was significantly higher in the 936 C/C group than in the 936 C/T and T/T groups (p=0.001). The results of our cell model showed that PECs with the C/C genotype had a higher angiogenesis ability and higher response to the antiangiogenesis drug bevacizumab than cells with the C/T and T/T genotypes.

Conclusions We suggest that VEGF could be used as a target for pterygium therapy in patients with the 936C>T genotype.

  • Angiogenesis
  • Conjunctiva
  • Cornea
  • Genetics

https://doi.org/10.1136/bjophthalmol-2013-303436

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      Pterygium: are we any closer to the cause?
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      British Journal of Ophthalmology 2013; 98 423-424 Published Online First: 24 Oct 2013. doi: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2013-304232