title: Immunohistochemical localization of advanced glycation end products in pinguecula.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are known to be deposited in the target organ of ageing. In addition, the deposition of AGEs accelerate the process of ageing. We investigated the immunohistochemical localization of AGEs in pinguecula, one of the ocular changes related with ageing process.
  
  
  METHODS
  Surgical specimens of conjunctiva with or without pinguecula were prepared from nine patients, respectively. Immunohistochemical localization of AGEs was investigated using monoclonal antibodies to N(epsilon)-(carboxymethyl)lysine, pentosidine, imidazolone, and pyrraline.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Moderate to strong immunoreactivities to AGEs were detected in the subepithelial amorphous deposits of all the surgical specimens with pinguecula. In contrast, no or weak immunoreactivities to AGEs were detected in the surgical specimens without pinguecula.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pinguecula is an aggregation of AGEs-modified proteins. The presence of pinguecula would be an index of local irradiation of ultraviolet rays and decreased antioxidant activities.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Tsukuba University Institute of Clinical Medicine, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8565, Japan. sanken-tky@umin.ac.jp
authors: Yuichi
authors: Y
authors: Kaji
authors: Tetsuro
authors: T
authors: Oshika
authors: Shiro
authors: S
authors: Amano
authors: Fumiki
authors: F
authors: Okamoto
authors: Wakako
authors: W
authors: Koito
authors: Seikoh
authors: S
authors: Horiuchi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000276:immunology; D003229:Conjunctival Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000276:immunology; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008239:Lysine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009646:Norleucine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000276:immunology; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced; D007093:Imidazoles; D011758:Pyrroles; C117197:imidazolone; C048496:N(6)-carboxymethyllysine; C059571:2-formyl-5-(hydroxymethyl)pyrrole-1-norleucine; D009646:Norleucine; D001120:Arginine; C062187:pentosidine; D008239:Lysine