The presence of crystallins and certain serum proteins in bovine aqueous humour, cornea and corneal endothelium and epithelium: (exhibit)

Abstract

Background: Phakomatous choristoma is a rare, congenital, ocular adnexal tumor that is presumed to be of lenticular anlage based on light and electron microscopy.Methods: The authors performed immunohistochemistry using standard commercially available antibodies against vimentin, S-100 protein, and several cytokeratins on a phakomatous choristoma that was excised from the right lower eyelid of a 10-weekold white boy. In addition, a battery of antibodies against lens-specific proteins, including alpha, beta, and gamma crystallins, was used.Results: The tumor cells showed intense immunoreactivity for all lens-specific proteins tested. The epithelial cells of the phakomatous choristoma stained positively for S-100 protein and vimentin, the intermediate filament normally found in lens epithelial cells. Keratin markers were negative.Conclusions: The results of immunohistochemistry indicate that the cells of Phakomatous choristoma synthesize several types of lens-specific proteins. Complementing previous light and electron microscopic studies, these data strongly support Zimmerman's conclusion that this pediatric adnexal tumor is a choristoma of lenticular anlage.