Abstract
To investigate human beta-defensins (HBDs) and cathelicidin LL-37 (LL-37) expressions in patients with pterygium. In this retrospective consecutive case series, 26 pterygium specimens and 15 normal conjunctival specimens of 15 control subjects were in vestigated. Expressions of HBD-1, HBD-2, HBD-3, and LL-37 were assessed using immuno histochemical staining. A brown color in the cytoplasm and/or nuclei of epithelial cells indicated positive staining for HBDs and LL-37. For each antibody, the intensity of the reaction (negative [-], weak [1+], moderate [2+], or strong [3+]) was determined to describe the immunoreactions. The median age was 52 years in both groups. There were no significant differences in age and sex between the groups (p=0.583, p=0.355, respectively). Of the 26 pterygium specimens, 15 (57.7%) (14 weak, 1 moderate staining) showed HBD-2 expression, which was not observed in any of the control specimens. One (3.8%) pterygium and one (6.7%) control specimen demonstrated weak staining for HBD-3. HBD-2 expression was significantly higher in the pterygium specimens than in the controls (p=0.002). None of the tissue specimens had positive staining for HBD-1 or LL-37 in either group (both; p=1.00). HBD-2 expression was higher in pterygium specimens than in the controls. HBD-2 expression that might be stimulated by inflammatory cytokines may be related to inflammation and fibrovascular proliferation and may play a role in pterygium pathogenesis.
Highlights
Pterygia develop from the growth of fibrovascular tissue of bulbar conjunctiva into the interpalpebral area of the cornea
Uma cor castanha no citoplasma ou nos núcleos de células epiteliais foi definida como coloração positiva para human beta-defensins (HBDs) e LL-37
HBD-1, HBD-2, HBD-3, and LL-37 levels in both groups are shown in table 1
Summary
Pterygia develop from the growth of fibrovascular tissue of bulbar conjunctiva into the interpalpebral area of the cornea. Epidemiological studies have shown that chronic ultraviolet exposure has a major role in pterygium pathogenesis[1]. Chronic inflammation due to some or all of the above factors probably causes fibrovascular proliferation. Growth factors, stem cell factors, and pro-angiogenic factors may all have a role in inflammation and fibrovascular proliferation of pathogenesis of pterygium[1]. It has been shown that the expression of human alpha-defensin, which is an antimicrobial peptide (AMP), is increased in the tears of patients with pterygia because of fibrovascular proliferation or associated inflammation[2]. It has been reported that some AMPs may be stimulated by proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha[3,4]
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