title: An immunohistochemical study of IgG, complement C3, collagen type III and macrophage-marker Ki-M7 in epiretinal membranes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the immunological changes in epiretinal membranes from the patients with proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve samples of epiretinal membranes obtained during vitreous surgeries for PVR were examined by direct and indirect immunofluorescein histochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cellular membranes in 8 cases were composed of retinal pigment epithelial cells, fibroblast-like cells, macrophages and collagen. Positive stainings of IgG, C3+ collagen type III and macrophage-marker Ki-M7 (CD68) was seen in the membranes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that humoral immune components and macrophages may play an important role in the development of epiretinal membrane formation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Xian Xijing Hospital, 4th Military Medical University, China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis*; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis*; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008566:Membranes / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D012160:Retina / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D018630:Vitreoretinopathy, Proliferative / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D003094:Collagen; D003176:Complement C3; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; C067980:CD68 antigen, human; D000097382:CD68 Molecule