Immunohistochemical localization of advanced glycation end products in pinguecula.
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.
Kaji
Yuichi
Y
Department of Ophthalmology, Tsukuba University Institute of Clinical Medicine, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8565, Japan. sanken-tky@umin.ac.jp
Oshika
Tetsuro
T
Amano
Shiro
S
Okamoto
Fumiki
F
Koito
Wakako
W
Horiuchi
Seikoh
S
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
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