Analysis of WWOX gene expression and protein levels in pterygium

Purpose Pterygium, a degenerative and hyperplastic lesion, has premalignant properties as a tumor analog. WWOX is a tumor suppressor gene and involved in many signal pathways, such as cell proliferation, embryonic development, metabolism and apoptosis. In many cancers, the loss of WWOX or the presence of abnormal transcripts indicates the tumor suppressor activity of WWOX. In this study, it was aimed to determine WWOX gene expression and protein levels in pterygium which may be a tumor analog. Methods For this purpose, the WWOX gene expression change in 27 pterygium tissue was investigated by real-time PCR method, and the change in WWOX protein was investigated using the Western blot method. Results According to our results, it was found that the expression and protein levels of WWOX gene in pterygium tissue decreased significantly compared to control tissue (p < 0.05). Conclusion This information indicates that a decrease in expression and protein level in pterygium tissue of WWOX, a tumor suppressor gene, supports claims that pterygium may be a cancer analog tissue.