What is it about?
Pterygium is a ocular surface disease with fleshy, abnormal cell growth. All somatic non-immune cells of the individual have the same genomic DNA, as the disease is localised to a certain area of the conjunctiva/cornea, epigenetics is likely to explain the pathology. Epigenetic regulation of various genes involved in these processes may be involved. Here we show that a few promoters are differentially methylated in pterygium compared to uninvolved conjunctiva in the same eyes.
Featured Image
Photo by Karolina Kołodziejczak on Unsplash
Why is it important?
Excessive ultraviolet stimulation may cause abnormal epigenetic regulation of some genes. We believe this is the first link between an environmental factor and epigenetic mechanism of a ocular surface disease.
Perspectives
DNA methylation is one of the pathways for pterygium progression
Prof Louis Tong
National University of Singapore
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Aberrant DNA Methylation of Matrix Remodeling and Cell Adhesion Related Genes in Pterygium, PLoS ONE, February 2011, PLOS,
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0014687.
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