[Immunohistochemistry research on keratoconus].
OBJECTIVE
Keratoconus is a noninflammatory disease characterized by thining and ectasia of the central cornea. The etiology and pathogenesis of keratoconus remain unclear. We studied the composition of basement membranes (BM) in normal, scarred and keratconus corneas to find out possible changes specific for keratoconus.


METHODS
Paraffin-embeded sections of normal, scarred and keratoconus corneas were immunostained with antibodys against type IV collagen, Fibronectin (Fn) and Laminin (Ln).


RESULTS
Keratoconus had increased staining of the epithelial BM for alpha 1-alpha 2 chain of type IV collagen and Fn, especially in scarred corneal regions. A similar enhancement was also observed in scarred corneas, and there was no significant difference between keratoconus and scarred cornea.


CONCLUSIONS
A process similar to wound healing would largely contribute to the differences seen in the keratoconus.
Deng
Y
Y
Department of Ophthalmology, First Teaching Hospital of West China University of Medical Sciences Chengdu 610041, China.
Liu
S
S
Cai
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000737:chemistry; D024141:Collagen Type IV / Q000032:analysis; D003315:Cornea / Q000737:chemistry*; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007640:Keratoconus / Q000378:metabolism*; D007797:Laminin / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male
D024141:Collagen Type IV; D005353:Fibronectins; D007797:Laminin