Figure 3. Quantitative real-time
polymerase chain reaction analyses of p16INK4a mRNA
expression in human corneal endothelial cells at various ages. Total
RNA was isolated from HCECs of each group, and the first-strand cDNA
were aynthesized from equal amounts of total RNA. Quantitative
real-time PCR was performed to analyze p16INK4amRNA
expression. A shows the expression of p16INK4a
from the eight age groups normalized to GAPDH mRNA. B
demonstrates fold change in p16INK4a expression
relative to the calibrator of the 20-year-old group. C is the
comparison of the average level of p16INK4amRNA
expressed in HCECs between the young (≤ 30 years) and old (≥ 50 years)
donors. Data are presented as mean±standard deviation, and a p<0.05
is considered to be statistically significant. Results indicate a
significant increase (p=0.014) in p16INK4a mRNA
expression in HCECs from the old donors.