Expression of p27(KIP1) and cyclin D1, and cell proliferation in human pterygium.
BACKGROUND
The pterygium is a growth onto the cornea of fibrovascular tissue that is continuous with the conjunctiva, whereas the mechanisms of cell proliferation in pterygium epithelium are unknown.


OBJECTIVE
To analyse the histopathology and the expression of cell cycle-related molecules in pterygium tissues.


METHODS
Seven pterygia were surgically removed using the bare-sclera procedure, and three normal bulbar conjunctivas were also obtained. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-wax-embedded tissues were analysed by immunohistochemistry with anti-p27(KIP1), cyclin D1 and Ki-67 antibodies.


RESULTS
Conjunctival epithelium consisted of several layers of round cells with a few goblet cells. Nuclear immunoreactivity for p27(KIP1) was noted in many normal epithelial cells, where cyclin D1 and Ki-67-positive nuclei were intermingled. A variety of goblet cells were located in the superficial layer of the pterygium head as well as those of the body epithelia. Several pterygium epithelial cells were p27(KIP1) positive, whereas nuclear immunoreactivity for cyclin D1 and Ki-67 was detected in many epithelial cells. By contrast, immunoreactivity for p27(KIP1), cyclin D1 and Ki-67 was hardly detected in the pterygium stroma.


CONCLUSIONS
It is suggested that pterygium growth and development are associated with the proliferation of epithelium, which is possibly involved in the expression of cell cycle-related molecules.
Kase
Satoru
S
Department of Ophthalmology, Sapporo Social Insurance General Hospital, Sapporo, Japan. kaseron@med.hokudai.ac.jp
Takahashi
Shuji
S
Sato
Izuru
I
Nakanishi
Katsuya
K
Yoshida
Kazuhiko
K
Ohno
Shigeaki
S
D049109:Cell Proliferation; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D019938:Cyclin D1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D050760:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27 / Q000378:metabolism*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D011625:Pterygium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery
D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D019938:Cyclin D1; D050760:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27