title: Do antiglaucomatous prostaglandins induce melanogenesis in human conjunctiva?: an impression cytology pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of antiglaucomatous prostaglandin analogs on conjunctival melanogenesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  For this pilot study, 30 glaucomatous patients treated with prostaglandin drops (alone and in association to beta-blockers) and 30 control subjects (15 healthy volunteers and 15 patients treated with beta-blockers) were included in this transversal, single masked, case-control, observational study. Skin complexion, eye color, conjunctival pigmentation, lacrimal tests, and corneal fluorescein staining were evaluated. Immunoreactivity for Tyrosinase was assayed on conjunctival imprints.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty percent of patients treated with prostaglandins and 10% of the control subjects clinically manifested conjunctival pigmentation (P=0.279). Only 4% (8/198) of the conjunctival specimens were positive to Tyrosinase immunostaining, with no statistically significant difference among the groups (P=0.449). In all cases, the proportion of positive cells was below 4%. When compared with subjects having negative specimens, those with positive immunostains did not show any statistically significant difference in skin complexion, eye color or exposure to irritants, and ultraviolet (P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to our preliminary results, prostaglandin antiglaucomatous analogs do not significantly enhance pigmentation in the superficial layers of the conjunctiva. The existence of the Tyrosinase enzyme in the superficial layers of the conjunctiva suggests that basal melanocytes may transfer their melanogenic apparatus to superficial epithelial cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, San Luigi Hospital, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cagigrigoriu
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Boero
authors.forename: Alessandra Boles
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Carenini
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rolle
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cappia
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bacillo
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Papotti
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gregori
authors.forename: Filippo Vitale
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Brovarone
authors.forename: Federico Maria
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Grignolo
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005127:Eye Color; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008543:Melanins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011461:Prostaglandins F, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D012880:Skin Pigmentation
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D008543:Melanins; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011461:Prostaglandins F, Synthetic; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase