CXCR4 expression in vitreoretinal membranes.
OBJECTIVE
Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) and macular pucker (MP) vitreoretinal membranes are caused by abnormal cell migration. By their role in chemotactism, chemokine receptors represent good candidates to sustain this process. The authors thus investigated the expression of one of them, CXCR4, in these pathologies.


METHODS
Three PVR and four MP membranes were surgically removed and processed for immunochemical studies with antibodies for CXCR4, cytokeratins or smooth muscle actin.


RESULTS
CXCR4 expression was found in all membranes. There was no relation between severity of PVR or MP and presence of CXCR4. In addition, there was no difference in CXCR4 expression between MP and PVR.


CONCLUSIONS
CXCR4 is expressed in PVR and MP. Further experiments are needed to test if CXCR4 and other chemokine receptors are implicated in vitreoretinal membrane formation.
Cabay
L
L
Department of Ophthalmology, CHU, Saint-Pierre, Brussels, Belgium IRIBHM, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
Willermain
F
F
Bruyns
C
C
Verdebout
J M
JM
Witta
Y
Y
Baffi
J
J
Velu
T
T
Libert
J
J
Caspers-Velu
L
L
Maho
A
A
Lespagnard
L
L
D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000276:immunology*; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4 / Q000032:analysis*; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000601:surgery; D014821:Vitrectomy; D018630:Vitreoretinopathy, Proliferative / Q000276:immunology*
D000906:Antibodies; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4