title: Expression of filaggrin in normal and keratinized conjunctiva.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We wanted to investigate filaggrin expression in normal conjunctiva and in conjunctiva exposed to different degrees of mechanical stress. Mechanical stress results in parakeratinization of the conjunctiva. If filaggrin is expressed in the milder forms of parakeratinization, it might be used as a sensitive marker of mechanical stress.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunohistochemical staining using antibodies to filaggrin was performed on paraffin sections of normal human conjunctiva, and on conjunctiva with different degrees of mechanical conjunctival stress.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Filaggrin was not expressed in the normal conjunctiva, nor in conjunctiva with milder forms of mechanical stress. Intense staining of filaggrin was seen in the conjunctiva of a patient with Stevens-Johnson syndrome, and marked expression of filaggrin was found in the conjunctival epithelium of a patient with moderate dysplasia of the conjunctiva.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Filaggrin is not a sensitive marker of mechanical stress; it is, however, expressed in some moderate and severe forms of parakeratinization of the conjunctiva.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Eye Pathology Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark ; Department of Dermato-allergology, Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Anne Sofie Kragegaard
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Lund
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Heegaard
authors.forename: Jan Ulrik
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Prause
authors.forename: Peter Bjerre
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Toft
authors.forename: Lone
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Skov
keywords: Filaggrin; conjunctiva; mechanical stress.; parakeratinized