PURPOSE: To evaluate the expression of interleukine 1 family including interleukin-1, (IL-1 alpha), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), interleukine-1 receptor antagonist, (IL-1RA) and interleukine-1 beta precursor by the epithelium in pterygium so as to understand the pathogenesis of this disorder. METHODS: The immunoflurescent staining was performed in 10 patients with primary pterygium, compared to 10 normal conjunctival epithelium, to determine the expression of IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-1 beta RA and IL-1 beta precursor proteins RESULTS: The IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta were present at whole epithelium while the IL-1 beta precursor was expressed by the superficial cells in normal conjunctival epithelium in immunofluorescent staining. No IL-1RA positive staining was found in normal conjunctiva. Of 10 pterygia, 7 pterygias were stained by IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta in the full thickness of epithelium, IL-1 beta precursor and IL-1RA in the superior cell and with strong staining compared to control group, 3 of them showed the similar staining pattern with normal conjunctiva. CONCLUSION: The increasing IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-1 beta RA and IL-1 beta precursor proteins are presented in pterygium, which shows that the pterygium is in the state of no-infective inflammation.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the expression of interleukine 1 family including interleukin-1, (IL-1 alpha), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), interleukine-1 receptor antagonist, (IL-1RA) and interleukine-1 beta precursor by the epithelium in pterygium so as to understand the pathogenesis of this disorder. METHODS: The immunoflurescent staining was performed in 10 patients with primary pterygium, compared to 10 normal conjunctival epithelium, to determine the expression of IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-1 beta RA and IL-1 beta precursor proteins RESULTS: The IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta were present at whole epithelium while the IL-1 beta precursor was expressed by the superficial cells in normal conjunctival epithelium in immunofluorescent staining. No IL-1RA positive staining was found in normal conjunctiva. Of 10 pterygia, 7 pterygias were stained by IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta in the full thickness of epithelium, IL-1 beta precursor and IL-1RA in the superior cell and with strong staining compared to control group, 3 of them showed the similar staining pattern with normal conjunctiva. CONCLUSION: The increasing IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-1 beta RA and IL-1 beta precursor proteins are presented in pterygium, which shows that the pterygium is in the state of no-infective inflammation.