Genomic instability and eye diseases

Hongyan Liu; Jun Cheng; Xiaoyun Zhuang; Benxiang Qi; Fenfen Li; Bining Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.aopr.2023.03.002

Genomic instability and eye diseases

Adv Ophthalmol Pract Res. 2023 Apr 5;3(3):103-111. doi: 10.1016/j.aopr.2023.03.002. eCollection 2023 Aug-Sep.

Authors

Hongyan Liu^{1

2}, Jun Cheng^{1

2

3}, Xiaoyun Zhuang^{2

4

5}, Benxiang Qi^{1

2

3}, Fenfen Li⁶, Bining Zhang^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Eye Institute of Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, China.
² School of Ophthalmology, Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, China.
³ State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Qingdao, China.
⁴ Eye Institute of Shandong First Medical University, Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University (Shandong Eye Hospital), Jinan, China.
⁵ Department of Ophthalmology, School of Clinical Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China.
⁶ The Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Hangzhou, China.

Abstract

Background: Genetic information is stored in the bases of double-stranded DNA. However, the integrity of DNA molecules is constantly threatened by various mutagenic agents, including pollutants, ultraviolet light (UV), and medications. To counteract these environmental damages, cells have established multiple mechanisms, such as producing molecules to identify and eliminate damaged DNA, as well as reconstruct the original DNA structures. Failure or insufficiency of these mechanisms can cause genetic instability. However, the role of genome stability in eye diseases is still under-researched, despite extensive study in cancer biology.

Main text: As the eye is directly exposed to the external environment, the genetic materials of ocular cells are constantly under threat. Some of the proteins essential for DNA damage repair, such as pRb, p53, and RAD21, are also key during the ocular disease development. In this review, we discuss five ocular diseases that are associated with genomic instability. Retinoblastoma and pterygium are linked to abnormal cell cycles. Fuchs' corneal endothelial dystrophy and age-related macular degeneration are related to the accumulation of DNA damage caused by oxidative damage and UV. The mutation of the subunit of the cohesin complex during eye development is linked to sclerocornea.

Conclusions: Failure of DNA damage detection or repair leads to increased genomic instability. Deciphering the role of genomic instability in ocular diseases can lead to the development of new treatments and strategies, such as protecting vulnerable cells from risk factors or intensifying damage to unwanted cells.

Keywords: Cornea; Genomic instability; Ocular diseases; Pterygium; Retinoblastoma.

Publication types

Review