Limbal Stem Cell Markers Abcg2 And ¦Á-enolase Non-linear Changes With Increasing Age

Objective To explore the changes of the limbal stem cell markers ABCG2 andα-enolase with aging.Methods Corneal epithelial tissues were collected from 30 New Zealand White rabbits, divided into three groups according to different age as 3-month(youth group), 18-month (middle age group) and 36-month (old age group) with 10 rabbits in each group. The limbal stem cells were cultured with DMEM/F12 medium. Semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to determine ABCG2 mRNA content andα-enolase mRNA content.Results The average ABCG2 mRNA content was 1.72 in youth group, 1.60 in middle age group, 1.15 in old age group, and there was a significant difference among the three groups (F=314.374, P<0.01). The average decline rate of ABCG2 mRNA was 0.008 in middle age group, 0.025 in old age group, and there was a significant difference between the two groups (t=-11.078, P<0.01). The averageα-enolase mRNA content was 1.49 in youth group, 1.33 in middle age group, 0.92 in old age group, and there was a significant difference among the three groups (F=289.981, P<0.01). The average decline rate ofα-enolase mRNA was 0.010 in middle age group, 0.023 in old age group, and there was a significant difference between the two groups (t=-7.860, P<0.01).Conclusion With aging, ABCG2 mRNA content andα-enolase mRNA content in limbal stem cell gradually reduced, the average decline rate of ABCG2 mRNA and the average decline rate ofα-enolase mRNA showed a non-linear accelerated process.