Immunocytochemical study of cells in the vitreous of proliferative vitreoretretinopathy.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the cellular components of vitreous samples obtained during vitrectomy for proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR).


METHODS
With the use of three intermediate filament (IF) proteins, vimentin, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and cytokeratin (CK), cytocentrifuge slides of 14 fresh vitreous aspirates were detected with immunohistochemical technique.


RESULTS
All the specimens contained epithelial-like proliferative cells with or without pigment and some membrane-like pieces. Immunocytochemical staining showed that 76.0-90.0% cells stained for CK, 17.4-29.6% cells expressed GFAP, and 80.1-91.0% cells were positive for vimentin.


CONCLUSIONS
Majority of cells in the vitreous samples originated from retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE) and glial cells in PVR. Expression of IF proteins may be determined by tissue of origin and local microenvironment.
Liu
B
B
Department of Ophthalmology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xian 710032, China.
Hui
Y
Y
Ma
J
J
Du
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007382:Intermediate Filaments / Q000378:metabolism; D007633:Keratins / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000378:metabolism; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000378:metabolism*; D014746:Vimentin / Q000032:analysis; D018630:Vitreoretinopathy, Proliferative / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000378:metabolism*
D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D014746:Vimentin; D007633:Keratins