J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  1991 Nov;32(11):929-938.

Expression of Extracellular Matrix, c-Ha-ras and c-myc genes in Cultured Pterygial Fibroblasts

• Kim KS
• Kim SH
• Suh SI
• Suh MH

Abstract

Pterygium, a disease of unknown origin and pathogennesis, is a chronic condition characterized by the encroachment of triangular portion of the bulbar conjunctiva onto the cornea. We have studied the expression of extracellular matrix genes and oncogenes in cultured pterygium using Northernm dot, and slot blot hybridizations. Northern hybridization with total RNA isolated from passaged (4-8 passages) cultures demonstrated expression of genes for alpha1(I) and alpha1(III) procollagen, fibronectin, and c-Ha-ras, but no expression of gene for c-myc was observed. The pterygium exhibited significantly increased expression of alpha1(I) and alphal(III) procollagen genes when compared with normal control cells(p<0.01). And We observed there were no differences between pterygium and normal control cells in the expression of genes for fibronectin and c-Ha-ras. According to these results we thought that the causes of pterygium may be related to the increased expression of alpha1(I) and alphal(III) procollagen genes but may not be related to c-Ha-ras, c-myc, and fibronectin genes.

Keyword

Extrcelular matrix genes; c-Ha-ras; c-myc; Northern; slot; dot blotting; Pterygium

MeSH Terms

Conjunctiva
Cornea
Extracellular Matrix*
Fibroblasts*
Fibronectins
Genes, myc*
Oncogenes
Procollagen
Pterygium
RNA
Fibronectins
Procollagen
RNA