Gene expression levels of the insulin-like growth factor family in patients with AMD before and after ranibizumab intravitreal injections

Abstract

PurposeThe present study focused on the assessment of the mRNA levels of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) family in patients with the exudative form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) before and after ranibizumab intravitreal injections.Patients and methodsAn analysis of the expression profile of the IGF family of genes in patients with AMD was carried out using the oligonucleotide microarray and quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) methods.ResultsIn the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from AMD group receiving ranibizumab compared to the peripheral blood mononuclear cells from AMD group before ranibizumab treatment using oligonucleotide microarray technique, six statistically significant differentially expressed transcripts related to the IGF family were detected (unpaired t-test, p<0.05, fold change >1.5). Moreover, analysis using the real-time RT-qPCR technique revealed statistically significant differences in the IGF2 and IGF2R mRNA levels (Mann–Whitney U test, p<0.05) between the two groups that were studied. Statistical analyses of both oligonucleotide microarray and real-time RT-qPCR results demonstrated a significant decreased expression only for IGF2 mRNA.ConclusionOur results revealed a changed expression of IGF2 mRNA after ranibizumab treatment.

Identification of aberrantly methylated differentially expressed genes in age-related macular degeneration

“…[27] Barbara et al reported significantly decreased expression of IGF2 mRNA in AMD patients after intravitreal injections of ranibizumab. [28] However, there is no literature on the methylation of these top 5 hypomethylation-high expression genes in relation with AMD. Here, we further investigated the methylation statuses of PIK3R1 , EZR , IGF2 , SLC2A1 , and CDKN1C in AMD patients’ blood samples.…”