ABSTRACT
Introduction: In order to better understand the role of hsa-miR-15a in the pathogenesis of age-related cataracts, we hypothesised altered expression, and of target anti-apoptotic genes, BCL-2 and MCL-1, in lens epithelial cells amongst age-related cataract patients.Material and methods: Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) quantified the expression of hsa-miR-15a and the target genes BCL-2 and MCL-1 in lens epithelial cells of 120 age-related cataract patients (40 patients with cortical cataracts, 40 patients with nuclear cataracts and 40 patients with posterior subcapsular cataracts) and 40 controls. Sixty specimens (15 normal and 45 cataracts) were stained immunohistochemically with BCL-2 and MCL-1 markers.Results: The expression of hsa-miR-15a was significantly increased (p = 0.003) in lens epithelial cells of cataract patients compared to the control group. BCL-2 and MCL-1 expression levels were significantly decreased in cataract patients (p < 0.001). A significant increase in hsa-miR-15a expression in the cortical subtype compared to the posterior subcapsular subtype (p = 0.003) and a significant decrease in BCL-2 and MCL-1 expressions in the cortical subtype compared to the nuclear and the posterior subcapsular subtype was detected.Conclusions: The increased expression of hsa-miR-15a in lens epithelial cells of cataract patients may repress the expression of BCL-2 and MCL-1. The expression of hsa-miR-15a and the subsequent apoptosis of lens epithelial cells are part of the pathogenesis of age-related cataracts.
Subject(s)
Aging/genetics , Cataract/diagnosis , MicroRNAs/genetics , Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein/genetics , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/genetics , Apoptosis/genetics , Biomarkers/metabolism , Case-Control Studies , Cataract/classification , Cataract/genetics , Cataract/pathology , Epithelial Cells/metabolism , Epithelial Cells/pathology , Female , Gene Expression Regulation , Humans , Lens, Crystalline/metabolism , Lens, Crystalline/pathology , Male , MicroRNAs/metabolism , Middle Aged , Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein/metabolism , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/metabolismABSTRACT
Schistosoma mansoni is progressively replacing S. haematobium along the Nile River in Egypt. This change has occurred in the past 15-20 years following construction of the Aswan High Dam in the 1960s. The cause is a shift in relative abundance of the snail vectors Biomphalaria alexandrina and Bulinus truncatus. Biomphalaria is increasing while the latter has disappeared from a village in the Fayoum where formerly only schistosomiasis haematobia was endemic. A cross-sectional household survey in this village in 1991 showed the following prevalence values: S. mansoni, 22.3%; S. haematobium, 3.4%; and mixed infections, 2.8%. Only two children less than 10 years of age had S. haematobium infections. A review of the local Ministry of Health records showed that 1) both species were parasitologically diagnosed during the past 7.5 years, 2) Biomphalaria had been abundantly present in the local waterways for the past 10 years and has been found infected with S. mansoni since 1985, 3) Bulinus has not been detected in the local canals and drains since 1986 and the few found between 1981 and 1985 were not infected, and 4) Biomphalaria in this village and in two others in the Fayoum were believed infected by laborers from the Delta who helped build schools in 1984. This change in the distribution of schistosomiasis will impact upon public health and medical practice in Middle and Upper Egypt as it already has in Lower Egypt.
