Telomere Length Measurement in Different Ocular Structures: A Potential Implication in Corneal Endothelium Pathogenesis.

Purpose: Human chromosomes are protected at their end by a long portion of hexameric tandem repeats, the telomere. In somatic cells, telomere attrition caused by endogenous and exogenous oxidative stress as well as DNA replication can threaten genomic integrity and lead to the deterioration of tissue functions and an age-related physiological decline. The human eye is a complex organ in which cells of different ocular tissues are exposed to photo-oxidation, high mitochondrial metabolic activity, and/or replicative pressure.

Faster DNA Repair of Ultraviolet-Induced Cyclobutane Pyrimidine Dimers and Lower Sensitivity to Apoptosis in Human Corneal Epithelial Cells than in Epidermal Keratinocytes.

Absorption of UV rays by DNA generates the formation of mutagenic cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPD) and pyrimidine (6-4) pyrimidone photoproducts (6-4PP). These damages are the major cause of skin cancer because in turn, they can lead to signature UV mutations. The eye is exposed to UV light, but the cornea is orders of magnitude less prone to UV-induced cancer.

Implication of ultraviolet light in the etiology of uveal melanoma: A review.

Uveal melanoma is the most frequent intraocular cancer and the second most common form of melanoma. It metastasizes in half of the patients and the prognostic is poor. Although ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a proven risk factor for skin melanoma, the role of UV light in the etiology of uveal melanoma is still contradictory.

The 3895-bp mitochondrial DNA deletion in the human eye: a potential involvement in corneal ageing and macular degeneration.

In human skin, the 3895-bp deletion of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA(3895)) is catalysed by ultraviolet (UV) light through the generation of reactive oxygen species. Given its function in vision, the human eye is exposed to oxidising UV and blue light in its anterior (cornea, iris) and posterior (retina) structures. In this study, we employed a highly sensitive quantitative PCR technique to determine mtDNA(3895) occurrence in human eye.

Wavelength-dependent ultraviolet induction of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers in the human cornea.

Exposition to ultraviolet (UV) light is involved in the initiation and the progression of skin cancer. The genotoxicity of UV light is mainly attributed to the induction of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs), the most abundant DNA damage generated by all UV types (UVA, B and C). The human cornea is also exposed to the harmful UV radiations, but no UV-related neoplasm has been reported in this ocular structure.

Mitochondrial DNA common deletion in the human eye: a relation with corneal aging.

The most frequent mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutation is a 4977 bp deletion known as the common deletion (mtDNA(CD4977)). mtDNA(CD4977) is related to skin photo-aging and to chronological aging of cells with high-energy demands such as neurons and muscle cells. The human eye contains both sun-exposed (cornea, iris) and high-energy demand structures (retina).

Ultraviolet light-induced cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers in rabbit eyes.

Sunlight exposure of the eye leads to pathologies including photokeratitis, cortical cataracts, pterygium, actinic conjunctivitis and age-related macular degeneration. It is well established that exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiations leads to DNA damage, mainly cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs). CPD formation is the principal factor involved in skin cancer.