Abstract

Background and Objective: Ophthalmic pterygium is a potentially vision-threatening lesion of unknown etiology that often extends on the corneal surface and has a worldwide distribution. Despite various studies, the pathogenesis of pterygium remains unclear and the involvement of human papillomavirus is controversial. We aimed to investigate the involvement of papillomavirus in pterygium formation.

Material and Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 50 tissue specimens of pterygium from the patients who had pterygium surgery as the case group and 10 conjunctival biopsy specimens of individuals without pterygium including the patients with  cataract surgery, as controls. The evidence of papillomavirus infection was tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Results: All samples, case and control, were not positive for papillomavirus. Both groups were positive for beta-globulin gene used to check the quality of extracted DNA.

Conclusion: In this study, due to the absence of papillomavirus in the context of Pterygium it seems that other factors are involved in causing the disease.

Keywords: Pterygium; Human Papilloma Virus; PCR.

Background and objectives: Pathogenesis of human papillomaviruses (HPVs) is controlled by viral and host factors, among which human histone acetyltransferase p300 (EP300) plays an important role. This study aimed to examine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at the EP300 binding site in patients with HPV-associated anogenital wart.
     Methods: After DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction was performed to determine HPV genotypes. Human p300 was amplified to detect SNPs using Sanger sequencing.
     Results: Overall, 35.3% of HPV-6-positive patients had Ile997Val substitution at the EP300 binding site. Another SNP containing A to G point mutation leading to Glu983Gly was also detected. In addition, Ile997Val substitution of EP300 was frequently observed in the patients.
     Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the EP300 genotype Ile/Val can be involved in HPV-6 pathogenesis. In addition, we introduced a new genotype (Glu983Gly) at the EP300 bromodomain site, which requires further investigation.