Tumour necrosis factor-α in conjunctivae affected by ocular cicatricial pemphigoid
Authors: Coma, Miguel Cordero; Yilmaz, Taygan1; Foster, C. Stephen
Source: Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica, Volume 85, Number 7, November 2007 , pp. 753-755(3)
Publisher: Blackwell Publishing
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Abstract:
. Purpose: The presence of tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in conjunctivae affected by ocular cicatricial pemphigoid (OCP) was investigated. Methods: Biopsy specimens from the conjunctivae of eight patients with OCP, three patients with atopic keratoconjunctivitis (AKC) and two normal subjects were studied for the expression of TNF-α by immunohistochemistry. Two independent, masked investigators evaluated the specimens. All samples were similarly processed by a third investigator. Results: No TNF-α was discerned in the normal conjunctival sections; small amounts of TNF-α were observed in the atopic keratoconjunctivitis specimens. TNF-α was present in substantial amounts in conjunctival sections of patients with OCP. The expression of TNF-α was detected in both epithelial and stromal cells of conjunctivae from OCP patients. Conclusions: The presence of TNF-α in conjunctivae affected by OCP may indicate that this cytokine plays an important role in the production and maintenance of conjuctival inflammation response and subsequent conjunctival scarring in patients with OCP. Further studies clarifying this potential role are warranted.Keywords: ocular cicatricial pemphigoid; tumor necrosis; factor alpha; conjunctiva; atopic keratoconjunctivitis
Document Type: Research article
DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0420.2007.00941.x
Affiliations: 1: Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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