The Ets-1 transcription factor is involved in pterygial angiogenesis.
Pterygial pathology is characterized by abnormal corneal epithelial proliferation, stromal modulation, matrix degradation and a strong tendency for otherwise absent corneal vascularization. As the proto-oncogene Ets-1 is known to play a key role in angiogenesis and matrix degradation in other tissues, its involvement in corneal vascularization was investigated. Fifteen pterygia representing two groups were studied. Group 1 consisted of five clinically active pterygia, and group 2 consisted of 10 samples of clinically non-active pterygia. (35)S-labelled ets-1 antisense and sense riboprobes were used for in-situ hybridization of Ets-1 transcription factor in all pterygia. The cytoplasm of blood vessel endothelial cells showed strong expression of ets-1 mRNA in all group 1 pterygia. In contrast, no expression of ets-1 was found in group 2 pterygia. Proto-oncogene ets-1 expression has been shown for the first time in the metaplastic pterygium, an eye tissue of unknown pathogenesis.
Naib-Majani
W
W
Department of International Medical Education and Development, Bonn, Germany.
Breipohl
W
W
Shazli
E E
EE
Theuerkauf
I
I
Pleyer
U
U
Hahne
J C
JC
Wernert
N
N
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003315:Cornea / Q000098:blood supply*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D050784:Proto-Oncogene Protein c-ets-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011625:Pterygium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors
C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D050784:Proto-Oncogene Protein c-ets-1; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors