Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Pterygium is a growth of fibrovascular tissue onto the cornea, in which the mechanisms of cell proliferation and vascularization are unknown. The ephrin-Eph system, especially ephrinB2 and its receptor EphB4, has been shown to play an important role in tumor angiogenesis. EphrinB2 and EphB4 have also been reportedly involved in the pathogenesis of ocular angiogenesis. This study was designed to investigate the expression of ephrinB2 and its receptor EphB4 in pterygia.

DESIGN:

Experimental study of the expression of ephrinB2 and its receptor EphB4 in pterygia.

PARTICIPANTS:

Twenty-three primary pterygia, 5 recurrent pterygia, and 11 normal conjunctiva were studied.

METHODS:

Immunohistochemistry studies were used to assess ephrinB2 and EphB4 protein expression levels and the tissue distribution in the samples.

RESULTS:

EphrinB2 and EphB4 staining was present at a dense level in the total epithelium of the head portions of both primary and recurrent pterygial specimens, although just in the basal and parabasal layer of the epithelium of most of the normal conjunctivae.

CONCLUSIONS:

EphrinB2 and EphB4 appear to be overexpressed in pterygium, and they may play important roles in its development.