TY - JOUR
T1 - Immunohistochemical profile of vegf, tgf-ß and pge2in human pterygium and normal conjunctiva
T2 - Experimental studyand review of the literature
AU - Bianchi, E.
AU - Scarinci, F.
AU - Grande, C.
AU - Plateroti, R.
AU - Plateroti, R.
AU - Plateroti, A. M.
AU - Fumagalli, L.
AU - Capozzi, P.
AU - Feher, J.
AU - Artico, M.
PY - 2012/7
Y1 - 2012/7
N2 - Human pterygium is made up of chronic proliferative fibro-vascular tissue growing on the ocular surface. This disease exhibits both degenerative and hyperplastic properties. Some fibroangiogenic factors have recently been shown to play a potential role in fibrovascular diseases via the angiogenesis process. The aim of this study is to evaluate VEGF, TGF-β; and PGE2 expression in the epithelial, endothelial and stromal cells of human pterygium and normal conjunctiva in order to determine whether these factors participate in the development of pterygium. Ten specimens from patients with pterygium and two normal conjunctivas (cadavers) were analyzed by immunohistochemistry using specific antibodies against these growth factors. The technique used was ABC/HRP (Avidin complexed with biotinylated peroxidase). Immunoreactivity of VEGF was significantly increased in the epithelium, vascular endothelium and stromal cells in primary pterygium as compared with normal conjunctiva. A moderate expression of TGF-β; in the pterygium was observed in the epithelial and stromal layers. On the contrary, immunolabeling of this growth factor in the human normal conjunctiva was weak. PGE2 was strongly expressed in the epithelium of patients with pterygium, as in control conjunctival tissues, and the immunolabeling was moderate in the stroma from the same patients. Our results suggest that these growth factors may contribute to the progression of primary pterygium by increasing angiogenesis, thus leading to the formation of new blood vessels from the pre-existing vasculature. We conclude that VEGF, TGF-β; and PGE2 may be potential therapeutic targets in the treatment of this disease although proof of this evidence requires further studies.
AB - Human pterygium is made up of chronic proliferative fibro-vascular tissue growing on the ocular surface. This disease exhibits both degenerative and hyperplastic properties. Some fibroangiogenic factors have recently been shown to play a potential role in fibrovascular diseases via the angiogenesis process. The aim of this study is to evaluate VEGF, TGF-β; and PGE2 expression in the epithelial, endothelial and stromal cells of human pterygium and normal conjunctiva in order to determine whether these factors participate in the development of pterygium. Ten specimens from patients with pterygium and two normal conjunctivas (cadavers) were analyzed by immunohistochemistry using specific antibodies against these growth factors. The technique used was ABC/HRP (Avidin complexed with biotinylated peroxidase). Immunoreactivity of VEGF was significantly increased in the epithelium, vascular endothelium and stromal cells in primary pterygium as compared with normal conjunctiva. A moderate expression of TGF-β; in the pterygium was observed in the epithelial and stromal layers. On the contrary, immunolabeling of this growth factor in the human normal conjunctiva was weak. PGE2 was strongly expressed in the epithelium of patients with pterygium, as in control conjunctival tissues, and the immunolabeling was moderate in the stroma from the same patients. Our results suggest that these growth factors may contribute to the progression of primary pterygium by increasing angiogenesis, thus leading to the formation of new blood vessels from the pre-existing vasculature. We conclude that VEGF, TGF-β; and PGE2 may be potential therapeutic targets in the treatment of this disease although proof of this evidence requires further studies.
KW - Conjunctiva
KW - Immunohistochemistry
KW - Pge
KW - Pterygium
KW - TGF-beta
KW - VEGF
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M3 - Article
C2 - 23058011
AN - SCOPUS:84868015527
VL - 25
SP - 607
EP - 615
JO - International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology
JF - International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology
SN - 0394-6320
IS - 3
ER -