Investigation of pathogenesis of the pterygium by transcriptomic and proteomic analysis

Abstract

Aims/Purpose: Extrinsic factors, including ultraviolet rays, are well‐known risk factors in the pathogenesis of pterygia. However, the biomolecular intrinsic factors that could serve as therapeutic targets have not been fully elucidated. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate comprehensive changes in the proteome and transcriptome of conjunctival pterygium tissues from human patients using multi‐omics analysis.Methods: A prospective cross‐sectional study enrolled 30 patients diagnosed with pterygium who underwent surgery from May 2020 to December 2020. During surgery, normal conjunctiva and conjunctival tissues with pterygium were collected. Nano liquid chromatography with tandem mass labelling spectrometry and next‐generation sequencing were performed on the obtained specimens. Proteins with significantly expressed mRNAs between pterygium and control were identified, and their biological processes were analysed using bioinformatic tools.Results: Through the integration of transcriptomic and proteomic analyses, a total of 1288 proteins were identified, which were also confirmed by mRNA expression. Hierarchical clustering heatmap analysis revealed distinct clusters corresponding to each group, and principle component analysis demonstrated a prominent separation between groups. Among the identified proteins, 185 were determined as differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), with 154 upregulated and 31 downregulated in pterygium compared to the control group. Protein–protein interaction network analysis revealed six distinct interconnected networks of DEPs, and gene ontology enrichment analysis highlighted biological processes associated with extracellular matrix organization, insulin‐like growth factor‐related pathways, and the immune system.Conclusions: This study demonstrates proteomic alterations in conjunctival tissues of patients with pterygium, which are corroborated by RNA expression analysis. The identified significant proteins in pterygium are associated with specific biological pathways and could be potential therapeutic targets. The integrated proteo‐transcriptomic analysis provides essential insights into the pathogenesis of pterygium, contributing to the identification of novel treatment strategies.