An investigation of human beta-defensins and cathelicidin expression in patients with pterygium.

Authors

Remzi Karadag, Thomas Jefferson University; Istanbul Medeniyet University School of MedicineFollow
Nurettin Bayram, Ipekyolu Government Hospital
Serpil Oguztuzun, Kirikkale University School of Medicine
Huseyin Bayramlar, Istanbul Medeniyet University School of Medicine
Busra Bozer, Hitit University
Gulcin Simsek, Kecioren Research and Training Hospital
Christopher J Rapuano, Thomas Jefferson UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-1-2017

Comments

This article has been peer reviewed. It is the author’s final published version in Arquivos Brasileiros de Oftalmologia

Volume 80, Issue 5, October 2017, Pages 277-278.

The published version is available at DOI: 10.5935/0004-2749.20170068. Copyright © Karadag et al.

Abstract

PURPOSE: To investigate human beta-defensins (HBDs) and cathelicidin LL-37 (LL-37) expressions in patients with pterygium.

METHODS: In this retrospective consecutive case series, 26 pterygium specimens and 15 normal conjunctival specimens of 15 control subjects were in vestigated. Expressions of HBD-1, HBD-2, HBD-3, and LL-37 were assessed using immuno histochemical staining. A brown color in the cytoplasm and/or nuclei of epithelial cells indicated positive staining for HBDs and LL-37. For each antibody, the intensity of the reaction (negative [-], weak [1+], moderate [2+], or strong [3+]) was determined to describe the immunoreactions.

RESULTS: The median age was 52 years in both groups. There were no significant differences in age and sex between the groups (p=0.583, p=0.355, respectively). Of the 26 pterygium specimens, 15 (57.7%) (14 weak, 1 moderate staining) showed HBD-2 expression, which was not observed in any of the control specimens. One (3.8%) pterygium and one (6.7%) control specimen demonstrated weak staining for HBD-3. HBD-2 expression was significantly higher in the pterygium specimens than in the controls (p=0.002). None of the tissue specimens had positive staining for HBD-1 or LL-37 in either group (both; p=1.00).

CONCLUSIONS: HBD-2 expression was higher in pterygium specimens than in the controls. HBD-2 expression that might be stimulated by inflammatory cytokines may be related to inflammation and fibrovascular proliferation and may play a role in pterygium pathogenesis.

Recommended Citation

Karadag, Remzi; Bayram, Nurettin; Oguztuzun, Serpil; Bayramlar, Huseyin; Bozer, Busra; Simsek, Gulcin; and Rapuano, Christopher J, "An investigation of human beta-defensins and cathelicidin expression in patients with pterygium." (2017). Wills Eye Hospital Papers. Paper 77.
https://jdc.jefferson.edu/willsfp/77

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

PubMed ID

29160535