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Analysis of WWOX gene expression and protein levels in pterygium

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Abstract

Purpose

Pterygium, a degenerative and hyperplastic lesion, has premalignant properties as a tumor analog. WWOX is a tumor suppressor gene and involved in many signal pathways, such as cell proliferation, embryonic development, metabolism and apoptosis. In many cancers, the loss of WWOX or the presence of abnormal transcripts indicates the tumor suppressor activity of WWOX. In this study, it was aimed to determine WWOX gene expression and protein levels in pterygium which may be a tumor analog.

Methods

For this purpose, the WWOX gene expression change in 27 pterygium tissue was investigated by real-time PCR method, and the change in WWOX protein was investigated using the Western blot method.

Results

According to our results, it was found that the expression and protein levels of WWOX gene in pterygium tissue decreased significantly compared to control tissue (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

This information indicates that a decrease in expression and protein level in pterygium tissue of WWOX, a tumor suppressor gene, supports claims that pterygium may be a cancer analog tissue.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Helin Deniz Demir for the critical review of the article and the kind assistance in obtaining the patient’s samples. This study was supported by Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University Scientific Research Projects Unit and TUBITAK. Project Nos. 2015/26 (Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University) and 215S692 (TUBITAK).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University, Tokat, Turkey

    Nihan Bozkurt & Omer Ates

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  1. Nihan Bozkurt
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  2. Omer Ates
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Correspondence to Nihan Bozkurt.

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Bozkurt, N., Ates, O. Analysis of WWOX gene expression and protein levels in pterygium. Int Ophthalmol 40, 1949–1953 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-020-01368-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-020-01368-7

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