Relationship between SIRT1 gene expression level and disease in age-related cataract cases

Abstract

Background/aim: Age-related cataract is the most important visual impairment all over the world. Epigenetic modifications, especiallyoverexpression of histone deacetylases, have become the focus of interest for cataract development in recent years. Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), aclass II histone deacetylase and a member of the sirtuin family, is one of the best-characterized histone deacetylases and has a pivotalrole in age-related diseases. However, the association of SIRT1 with age-related cataracts has not yet been fully elucidated. Therefore, weaimed to determine the expression of SIRT1 in age-related cataract patients.Materials and methods: Expressions of SIRT1 were evaluated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in patients and healthycontrols. RNA samples were collected from the anterior capsule and peripheral blood samples of age-related cataract patients. Humanlens epithelial cell line B3 and peripheral blood samples of healthy subjects were used as controls.Results: We determined that the expression of SIRT1 in blood and anterior capsule samples increased significantly compared to thecontrol group (P < 0.05).Conclusion: The expression level of SIRT1 plays a vital role in the development of age-related cataract and it can be used as a biomarker.Thus, SIRT1 inhibitors can be used in the treatment of age-related cataract disease.