Page 10 - F. Cell biology

[F. Cell biology-5]

Identification of ANO4/TMEM16D function in pterygium

Jiyeon Kim¹˙²˙#, Ikhyun Jun²˙#, Kyoung Yul Seo²˙*

¹Brain Korea 21 Plus Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Korea, ²Department of

Ophthalmology , Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea

Pterygium is an ocular surface disease and fibrovascular tissue of the conjunctiva grows excessively like cancer,
covering the cornea. Surgical excision is a standard treatment for pterygium and possibility of recurrence after

surgical removal has been reported to range from 38% to 88% according to the study.

The Anoctamin (ANO)/transmembrane member 16 (TMEM16) family genes are consisting of a total of 10 subgenes

(A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, K) and mediate diverse physiological and pathophysiological functions including cancer cell

proliferation. In particular, ANO1/TMEM16A and ANO9/TMEM16J induce cancer cell growth through interaction
with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR).

In this study, we investigate the role of ANO4/TMEM16D in proliferation of pterygium. In an initial screen of

ANO/TMEMs, ANO4 was overexpressed in pterygium and pathogenesis of pterygium was evaluated using in vitro
approach. We observed overexpression of ANO4 in pterygium compared to normal conjunctiva. In addition, physical

association of ANO4 with EGFR underlies ANO4-induced cell proliferation, like ANO1, ANO9.

The ANO4 appears to be a useful prognostic marker for pterygium and a potential therapeutic target. It can be

also deveolped as a medication to prevent recurrence after surgery.