title: Cytokeratin expression in corneal dystrophies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify an immunohistochemical pattern of epithelial markers in granular, lattice and Avellino corneal dystrophies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two corneal buttons, diagnosed as lattice (17), Avellino (4) and granular (1) underwent immunohistochemical studies of cytokeratins (CKs) on paraffin-embedded sections (group I). Monoclonal antibodies for pan-CK (AE1/AE3) and CKs 3/12, 5/6, 8, 18 and 19 were used. Twenty-two normal corneas were used as the control (group II).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six lattice and 2 Avellino cases of group I stained positively with anti-CK 3/12 in corneal epithelium and areas of corneal stroma deposits. One of these cases of lattice was positive for anti-pan-CK (AE1/AE3) also in the epithelium and areas of corneal stroma deposits with a similar pattern. None of the controls (group II) revealed any staining in corneal stroma. All disease and control cases (groups I and II) revealed positive staining in corneal epithelium.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AE1/AE3 and CK 3/12 anti-CK positive markers in the stromal deposits of lattice and Avellino dystrophies may suggest an epithelial genesis of the disease.
authors.affiliation: São Paulo Federal University, SP, Brazil. anamariacoutinho@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Anamaria Baptista
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Coutinho
authors.forename: Denise de
authors.initials: Dd
authors.lastname: Freitas
authors.forename: João Pessoa de
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Souza Filho
authors.forename: Zélia Maria S
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Corrêa
authors.forename: Alexandre Nakao
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Odashiro
authors.forename: Miguel N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Burnier
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D003315:Cornea / Q000378:metabolism*; D003317:Corneal Dystrophies, Hereditary / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015415:Biomarkers; D007633:Keratins