In situ expression of thyrotropin receptor in the extraocular muscles of patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of thyrotropin receptor (TSHR) in the extraocular muscles (EOM) of the eyes of patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO).


METHODS
EOM specimens were obtained from 12 patients with severe TAO and 10 healthy subjects within 1 hour after accidental death and the paraffin-embedded sections were observed by streptavidin-peroxidase (SP) immunohistochemical methods.


RESULTS
The expression of TSHR was observed in the perimysium, cytomembrane and cytoplasm in 10 of the 12 TAO specimens, accounting for a TSHR expression rate of 83.3% in the EOM of TAO patients. No TSHR protein was found in the healthy subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
High TSHR expression in the EOM of TAO patients indicates that as a common antigen between the orbit and thyroid, TSHR play a key role in the pathogenesis of TAO.
Chen
Jing
J
Department of Ophthalmology, Guangzhou General Hospital of Guangzhou Command, Guangzhou 510010, China. Jingch518@yahoo.com.cn
Wei
Rui-li
RL
He
Jin
J
Ma
Xiao-ye
XY
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009801:Oculomotor Muscles / Q000737:chemistry*; D011989:Receptors, Thyrotropin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology
D011989:Receptors, Thyrotropin