[Myofibroblasts and retinal fibrovascular membranes].
BACKGROUND
Epiretinal tissue proliferations occurring during the evolution of ischemic microangiopathies or preretinal diseases are tough to cause retinal detachment by traction mechanisms. Cellular migration/proliferations and finally contraction are tough to be the pathogenic element. Myofibroblasts are contractile cells having features intermediate between those of the fibroblasts and smooth muscle. We conducted a study to explore whether such cells are present in preretinal membranes.


METHODS
8 membranes, preelevated during vitrectomy for proliferative vitreoretinopathy or diabetic proliferative vitreoretinopathy, were analysed with immunostaining technique searching for alpha-actine smooth muscle, desmine, which are specific markers for myofibroblasts and TGF-beta1, that is considered as the mean factor promoting the transformation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts.


RESULTS
All the histological preparation showed abundant staining with antibody against alpha-actine smooth muscle, desmine and TGF-beta1.


CONCLUSIONS
Myofibroblasts are one of the major cellular element of preretinal membranes. They are scattered throughout the membrane and seem to account for their contractile properties.
Pournaras
C J
CJ
Policlinique d'Ophtalmologie, Genève.
Donati
G
G
Kapetanios
A D
AD
Redard
M
M
Bochatay-Piallat
M L
ML
Gabbiani
G
G
D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D003893:Desmin / Q000378:metabolism; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000473:pathology*; D019773:Epiretinal Membrane / Q000473:pathology*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D009218:Myosins / Q000378:metabolism; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000473:pathology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism; D018630:Vitreoretinopathy, Proliferative / Q000473:pathology*
D000199:Actins; D003893:Desmin; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D009218:Myosins