title: Expression of cell proliferation and apoptosis biomarkers in pterygia and normal conjunctiva.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the expression of apoptosis and cell proliferation molecules in pterygium tissues of Chinese patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-three pterygia were surgically removed using the bare sclera procedure, and 23 normal bulbar conjunctivas were also obtained. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-wax-embedded tissues were analyzed by immunohistochemistry with anti- proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), K(i)-67 (a proliferating cell marker), mutant p53 (mP53), Bcl-2 associated X-protein (BAX), B-cell lymphoma gene 2 (Bcl-2), and caspase-3 antibodies. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling assay (TUNEL) analysis was used to analyze the apoptotic cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our study revealed that the positive rate of PCNA and K(i)-67 significantly increased in the pterygium samples compared to the normal conjunctiva samples. In the molecules involved in apoptosis, the results showed that the positive rate of Bcl-2 and mP53 significantly increased in the pterygium samples. However, no difference was found between the pterygium and normal conjunctiva samples in the expression of Bax and caspase-3. Through TUNEL analysis, apoptotic cells were seen in the entire width of the epithelial layer in normal conjunctivas but were found mainly confined to the outer layer of the epithelial cells in pterygia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The finding of high levels of cellular proliferation and low levels of cellular apoptosis in pterygia confirmed that both cell apoptosis and proliferation are known to play an important role in human pterygium pathogenesis.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, the Second Hospital Affiliated to Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, PR China.
authors: Kun
authors: K
authors: Liang
authors: Zhengxuan
authors: Z
authors: Jiang
authors: Bi-qing
authors: BQ
authors: Ding
authors: Ping
authors: P
authors: Cheng
authors: Da-ke
authors: DK
authors: Huang
authors: Li-ming
authors: LM
authors: Tao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011625:Pterygium / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53