title: CD-34 stromal expression pattern in normal and altered human corneas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test CD-34 immunoreactivity in stromal cornea cells in normal and pathologic samples obtained from penetrating keratoplasty.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, consecutive histopathologic human tissue study.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred two cornea buttons from patients with different diseases, submitted for cornea transplant, were examined. Controls were expired corneas from healthy donor patients who died (n = 4), and globes enucleated for primitive intraocular neoplasias, that is, retinoblastomas (n = 8), and malignant choroidal melanomas (n = 2).
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression of CD-34 in stromal cornea cells was examined by immunohistochemistry analysis. Other immunohistochemical stains included an endothelial cell marker (CD-31), common leukocyte antigen, and alpha-smooth muscle actin.
  
  
  METHODS
  Different diseases that may cause blindness and require penetrating keratoplasty have been tested for CD-34 immunoreactivity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In control corneas, keratocytes present strong and consistent CD-34 immunoreactivity. Diseases leading to the loss of transparency and penetrating keratoplasty, such as keratoconus, herpes keratitis, trauma, and heredofamilial dystrophies, are associated with focal or diffuse loss of CD-34 expression, whereas pseudophakic bullous keratopathy and Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy show normal CD-34 immunoreactivity in most cases and patchy unstained stromal areas in a few cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Scar tissue formation in the cornea, as in herpes keratitis and trauma, is always associated with loss of CD-34 immunoreactivity, which may otherwise be a primary event in keratoconus and heredofamilial dystrophies. Both in the pseudophakic bullous keratopathy and Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy, CD-34 immunoreactivity may be normal or lost, hence these two diseases may be considered as one and part of the same group with regard to CD-34 expression, as revealed by immunohistochemistry analysis.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy. paolot@unisi.it
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Toti
authors.forename: Gian Marco
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Tosi
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Traversi
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schürfeld
authors.forename: Concetta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cardone
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caporossi
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000378:metabolism*; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D018952:Antigens, CD34; D006680:HLA Antigens; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1