[Cytokine assays for pterygium].
OBJECTIVE
To study the roles of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) in pathogenesis of pterygium.


METHODS
Radioimmunoassay and bioactivity assay were used to measure the levels of TNF-alpha and PDGF in tissue culture supernatant of pterygium specimens obtained from 30 patients.


RESULTS
The levels of TNF-alpha and PDGF in tissue culture supernatant of pterygium were significantly higher than that of normal conjunctival specimens (t = 2.827, P < 0.01; t = 3.011, P < 0.01), and there was a significant difference between progressive and quiescent cases (t = 2.374, P < 0.05; t = 2.712, P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The abnormal secretion of TNF-alpha and PDGF may be related to the pathogenesis of pterygium.
Zhang
J
J
Department of Ophthalmology, Fujian Provincial People's Hospital, Fuzhou 350004.
Jin
W
W
Lin
Y
Y
Zhang
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D011625:Pterygium / Q000209:etiology*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism
D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha