Altered gene expression in lymphocytes of patients with normal-tension glaucoma

Background. In glaucoma there is a loss of retinal ganglion cells. There is evidence that this loss can occur by apoptosis. The signal transduction le ading to retinal ganglion cell apoptosis in glaucoma is not yet clear. The present study compares the gene expression in lymphocytes of normal tension glaucoma patients (NTG-patients) with the one of healthy controls. Methods. Subtractive hybridization was used to compare mRNA in lymphocytes of six vasospastic NTG-patients with six age and sex matched healthy subjec ts. Results. Genes coding for p53-protein, NTP (neural thread protein) and 20 S proteasome subunit XAPC7 were overexpressed, whereas those coding for XPGC (Xeroderma pigmentosum gene), the surviving protein as well as one type of ABC transport protein were underexpressed. Conclusion. In comparison to healthy controls, patients with vasospastic NT G seem to over- as well as under-express certain genes in their lymphocytes .