Molecular pathology of Muller's muscle in Graves' ophthalmopathy.
BACKGROUND
Upper lid retraction is a common sign in Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO). Whether Müller's muscle is involved in upper lid retraction has not been fully elucidated.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of the study was to understand the molecular pathology of Müller's muscle in GO.


METHODS
A method for measurement of histological changes was developed and used to correlate severity and expression of cell-specific genes in GO.


METHODS
Histological changes, clinical severity of upper lid retraction, and mRNA expression in Müller's muscle in GO were measured.


RESULTS
The degree of fibrosis correlates with severity of upper lid retraction. Macrophage infiltration was increased in fibrotic areas, consistent with higher levels of macrophage-colony stimulating factor mRNA. Levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma mRNA were up-regulated and correlated with fat infiltration. Decreased muscle mass correlated with lower myocardin mRNA expression. The expression of c-kit levels was decreased in diseased muscles, consistent with diminished mast cell numbers.


CONCLUSIONS
The pathological changes of Müller's muscle correlate with clinical severity of upper lid retraction in GO. Patterns of gene expression appear to correlate with the histopathological changes in this disease process.
Shih
Mei-Ju
MJ
Department of Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, No. 7, Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei, Taiwan. leeming@ha.mc.ntu.edu.tw.
Liao
Shu-Lang
SL
Kuo
Kuan-Ting
KT
Smith
Terry J
TJ
Chuang
Lee-Ming
LM
D000328:Adult; D005143:Eyelids / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D049970:Graves Ophthalmopathy / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009801:Oculomotor Muscles / Q000473:pathology*; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012313:RNA