Immunohistochemical study of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), tumor suppressor protein (p53) and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM-1) in the conjunctiva of diabetic patients.
The expression pattern of VEGF, p53 and ICAM-1 was studied in conjunctiva of diabetic patients with and without retinopathy. All patients underwent a complete ophthalmic examination, including retinal fluorescein angiography. Indirect immunoperoxidase method was performed on 20 eyes of 20 patients with type II diabetes without DR and on 5 eyes of 5 patients with PDR. A control study was performed on 6 normal conjunctiva undertaken during cataract surgery. Immunoreactivity of VEGF, p53 and ICAM-1 was found in epithelial, fibroblast and vascular endothelial cells. For the same duration of diabetes, a strong to moderate or weak immunoreactivity was observed in the conjunctiva of patients without retinopathy. In patients with PDR, the expression was strong for all these proteins. The immunoreactivity was correlated between VEGF, p53 and ICAM-1. In the normal conjunctiva, a weak to negative immunostaining was observed. The presence of these proteins in the conjunctiva of diabetic patients without retinopathy may add new data in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy. Further studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis.
Department of Ophthalmology, Tunis, Tunisia.
Lidia
L
Kria
Taoufik
T
Khalfaoui
Ghada
G
Mkannez
Omar
O
Beltaief
Raja
R
Anane
Khalil
K
Errais
Lilia
L
Tounsi
Raja
R
Zhioua
Sarra Ben
SB
Jilani
Amel Meddeb
AM
Ouertani
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000473:pathology*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*
D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1