advertisement
Abstract #8106 Published in IGR 4-3
Increased plasma levels of 20S proteasome alpha-subunit in glaucoma patients: an observational pilot study
Wunderlich K; Golubnitschaja O; Pache M; Eberle AN; Flammer JMolecular Vision 2002; 8: 431-435
PURPOSE: Several reports have shown that proteasome levels may change during pathological processes. The authors investigated whether altered gene expression of the alpha-subunit of 20S proteasomes in leukocytes of glaucoma patients at the level of mRNA, earlier shown by them, is reflected by the level of protein synthesis. METHODS: Western blot analysis was performed to determine the protein levels of the 20S proteasome alpha-subunit in leukocytes of 12 glaucoma patients (six high-tension (HTG) and six normal tension (NTG)) and six healthy controls. RESULTS: Plasma levels of the 20S proteasome alpha-subunit showed a 3.4 ± 0.47 (mean ± SD; p < 0.0001) -fold increase in glaucoma patients when compared to healthy controls. In addition, NTG patients revealed a more pronounced alpha-subunit expression (p < 0.05) when compared to patients with HTG. CONCLUSIONS: During the pathological process of glaucoma, proteasome protein levels increase. This indicates that proteasome protein levels may be a diagnostic or eventually a prognostic marker for glaucomatous damage.
K. Wunderlich, MD, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
Classification:
9.4.15 Glaucoma in relation to systemic disease (Part of: 9 Clinical forms of glaucomas > 9.4 Glaucomas associated with other ocular and systemic disorders)
