The study on the expression of keratin proteins in pterygial epithelium.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the expression patterns of several keratin proteins in pterygial epithelium.


METHODS
The proteins of K8, K10, K14, K16 and AE3 in the epithelium of 8 pterygia and 4 normal conjunctiva were detected using immunofluorescent staining.


RESULTS
In pterygial epithelium, the staining patterns of 5 keratin proteins were different with normal conjunctiva. No staining of K8, K10 and K16 was detected in normal conjunctival epithelium, but in pterygial epithelium, K8 and K16 were present in full thickness and K10 was present in superficial cells. In normal conjunctiva, only base layer of epithelium showed positive staining with antibody of K14 and AE3 proteins, but they were present in the full thickness in pterygial epithelium and the antibody of AE3 protein stained the superficial cells heavily comparing with base cells.


CONCLUSIONS
The abnormal expression of keratin proteins (K8, K10, K14, K16 and AE3) in pterygia indicates that the epithelial cells in pterygia are in the state of hyperproliferation and keratinization, which may be the cause of the abnormal tear function in patients with pterygia.
Zhang
M
M
Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510060, China.
Liu
Z
Z
Xie
Y
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000378:metabolism; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007633:Keratins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011625:Pterygium / Q000378:metabolism*
D007633:Keratins