title: Immunostaining of preretinal membranes for actin, fibronectin, and glial fibrillary acidic protein.
abstract: The frequency and extent of immunostaining for actin, fibronectin (FN), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were determined in 37 preretinal membranes (PRMs) obtained at vitrectomy from 35 patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) (n = 16), proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) (n = 18), or idiopathic macular pucker (MP) (n = 3). All three proteins were detected in the vast majority of specimens (actin, 86%; FN, 95%; GFAP, 96%), although the extent of staining varied for each. Actin-FN co-localization was observed in all diagnostic groups on comparison of adjacent sections and in double-labeled sections. The extent of actin staining did not correlate with clinical grading of PRM contraction. In PDR membranes, FN staining was low overall, but proportional to the vascular content of the PRM. Fibronectin staining of PVR membranes was greater, and extensive even in avascular specimens. In MP membranes, most cells were GFAP-positive, whereas in PDR and PVR specimens, GFAP staining was variable. The lack of correlation of clinical contractility and membrane composition, as studied in this article by immunostaining, indicates that other factors must play significant roles in determining membrane behavior.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Wisconsin-Madison 53792.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Sramek
authors.forename: I H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Wallow
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Nork
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000032:analysis*; D000367:Age Factors; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000032:analysis*; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D010781:Photography; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D014821:Vitrectomy
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D005353:Fibronectins; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein