Background: We investigated the expression of molecules in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and plasma of patients with acute primary angle closure (APAC).
Materials and methods: Peripheral blood was collected from patients with APAC (n = 10) and age-matched controls (n = 5). The gene transcription profile was analyzed in PBMCs using microarrays and validated by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The levels of secreted proteins were evaluated in plasma by ELISA.
Results: 347 gene transcripts were up-regulated by 2-fold or more, and 696 transcripts down-regulated 2-fold or more in PBMCs from patients compared to controls. The most highly up-regulated gene was thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1, 8.66-fold increase), and the most down-regulated gene was prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2, 9.09-fold decrease). Real-time RT-PCR assay confirmed the increase of TSP-1 and the decrease of PTGS2 in PBMCs of patients. ELISA revealed that the levels of TSP-1 and active transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 that is activated by TSP-1 were elevated in plasma of patients, while the level of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) that is converted by PTGS2 was reduced. The plasma level of TSP-1 was positively correlated with that of active TGF-β1.
Conclusions: Our data suggest that the molecular network including TSP-1, TGF-β1, and PGE2 might be involved in the pathogenesis of APAC and PACG.
Keywords: Acute primary angle closure; peripheral blood mononuclear cells; prostaglandin E2; thrombospondin-1; transforming growth factor-β1.