MATERIALS AND METHODS: The tenon tissue was harvested from a patient undergoing strabismus surgery. The human tenon fibroblast cell culture and isolation were performed according to the standard laboratory cell culturing protocol. The cells were divided into three groups: control, treatment with irradiated and non-irradiated riboflavin. There were five different concentrations (0.00156%, 0.003125%, 0.00625%, 0.0125%, 0.025%) in each group of riboflavin. The fibroblasts were treated with riboflavin and the cellular viability was assessed at 24-hour and 48-hour post treatment with MTT 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide colorimetric assay. The absorbance values were analysed using Magellan microplate reader data analysis. A triplicate of readings was taken. The data were presented as mean ± standard deviation of the triplicates. Statistical analysis was performed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) analysis version 23.
RESULTS: Irradiated riboflavin caused a concentration-dependent cell death in human tenon fibroblast cell culture (p
METHODS: Keratoconic (n = 74) and control subjects (n = 96) were recruited based on clinical diagnostic tests and selection criteria. DNA extracted from the blood samples was used to genotype VSX1 polymorphisms. In-house designed primers and optimization of PCR conditions were carried out to amplify exons 1 and 3 of the VSX1 gene. PCR conditions including percentage GC content, melting temperatures, and differences in melting temperatures of primers were evaluated to produce sensitive and specific DNA amplifications.
RESULTS: Genotyping was successfully carried out in 4 exons of the VSX1 gene. Primer annealing temperatures were observed to be crucial in enhancing PCR sensitivity and specificity. Annealing temperatures were carefully evaluated to produce increased specificity, yet not allowing sensitivity to be compromised. In addition, exon 1 of the VSX1 gene was amplified using 2 different sets of primers to produce 2 smaller amplified products with absence of non-specific bands. DNA amplification of exons 1 and 3 consistently showed single band products which were successfully sequenced to yield reproducible data.
CONCLUSIONS: The use of in-house designed primers and optimized PCR conditions allowed sensitive and specific DNA amplifications that produced distinct single bands. The in-house designed primers and DNA amplification protocols established in this study provide an addition to the current repertoire of primers for accurate molecular characterization of VSX1 gene polymorphisms in keratoconus research.