Guan Huai-Jin
Department of Ophthalmology, Affiliated Hospital, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China.
Zhonghua Yan Ke Za Zhi. 2012 Mar;48(3):196-8.
Molecular epidemiology is a new branch of eye epidemiology that combines theories and methods in both epidemiology and molecular biology. The definition of molecular epidemiology is to use biological and, in particular, genetic markers (nucleic acid, protein) as measures for detecting the propensity of a disease developing, or as an indicator of a disease or an exposure in the studies of disease distribution. Molecular epidemiology has the same objectives as conventional ophthalmic epidemiology in a defined population. The main designs used in ophthalmic molecular epidemiology include descriptive study, case control study, and nested case control study. Currently, molecular experimental techniques mainly include single nucleotide polymorphism, ELISA, protein and mRNA array, microRNA and the study of epigenetic markers. Gene susceptibility biomarker is one of the most commonly used molecular markers. The findings of ophthalmic molecular epidemiology studies can be used to design personalized therapy. Undoubtedly, ophthalmic molecular epidemiology will evolve and develop in the new era for the prevention and control of complex eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, cataract, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy.
分子流行病学是眼流行病学的一个新分支，它结合了流行病学和分子生物学的理论与方法。分子流行病学的定义是使用生物学，特别是遗传标记（核酸、蛋白质）作为检测疾病发生倾向的指标，或在疾病分布研究中作为疾病或暴露的指标。在特定人群中，分子流行病学与传统眼科流行病学具有相同的目标。眼科分子流行病学中使用的主要设计包括描述性研究、病例对照研究和巢式病例对照研究。目前，分子实验技术主要包括单核苷酸多态性、酶联免疫吸附测定、蛋白质和mRNA阵列、微小RNA以及表观遗传标记的研究。基因易感性生物标志物是最常用的分子标记之一。眼科分子流行病学研究的结果可用于设计个性化治疗。毫无疑问，在新时代，眼科分子流行病学将不断发展，以预防和控制诸如年龄相关性黄斑变性、白内障、青光眼和糖尿病视网膜病变等复杂眼病。
