Immunohistochemichal Expression of Cyclooxygenase-2 in Primary and Recurrent Pterygium: Possible Role in Pathogenesis and Recurrence
Azza Mohamed Ahmed Said; Rania Gamal Eldin Zaki; Nermeen Salah Youssef;
Abstract
Background and Objective:
Following the discovery of an abnormal expression of the p53 gene in the epithelium in pterygium, some researchers felt that pterygium is a tumor rather than a degenerative disease. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation has been reported to be associated with pterygium formation; however the mechanism whereby UV induces uncontrolled proliferation in pterygium cells is unclear. UV irradiation has a key role in the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that can induce cyclooxygenase -2 (COX-2) production. Increased expression of COX-2 was found in many cancers and premalignant lesions. This study was conducted to investigate COX-2 expression in primary and recurrent pterygium tissues and to evaluate its role in pterygium formation and recurrence.
Material and methods:
In this study, 23 primary pterygia and 11 recurrent pterygia from subjects undergoing pterygium surgery as well as 14 normal conjunctival tissue specimens as control were studied immunohistochemically for COX-2 expression.
Results:
COX-2 was expressed in both normal conjunctiva as well as pterygia specimens (primary and recurrent). However, highly statistical significant differences were detected between control and primary pterygium tissues regarding COX-2 expression in surface epithelium (P <0.001), stromal inflammatory cells (P=0.001) and stromal blood vessels (P=0.004). Moreover, a highly statistical significant difference was found between control tissues and recurrent pterygium tissues concerning COX-2 expression in surface epithelium, stromal fibroblasts, inflammatory cells and blood vessels (P<0.001 in all). There was also a statistical significant difference between primary and recurrent pterygium tissues as regards COX-2 expression in surface epithelium (P=0.046), stromal fibroblasts (P=0.005), stromal inflammatory cells (P=0.007) and blood vessels (P= 0.051).
Conclusion:
COX-2 was highly expressed in pterygium tissues especially recurrent pterygium. It may play a role in pterygium formation and recurrence.
Following the discovery of an abnormal expression of the p53 gene in the epithelium in pterygium, some researchers felt that pterygium is a tumor rather than a degenerative disease. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation has been reported to be associated with pterygium formation; however the mechanism whereby UV induces uncontrolled proliferation in pterygium cells is unclear. UV irradiation has a key role in the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that can induce cyclooxygenase -2 (COX-2) production. Increased expression of COX-2 was found in many cancers and premalignant lesions. This study was conducted to investigate COX-2 expression in primary and recurrent pterygium tissues and to evaluate its role in pterygium formation and recurrence.
Material and methods:
In this study, 23 primary pterygia and 11 recurrent pterygia from subjects undergoing pterygium surgery as well as 14 normal conjunctival tissue specimens as control were studied immunohistochemically for COX-2 expression.
Results:
COX-2 was expressed in both normal conjunctiva as well as pterygia specimens (primary and recurrent). However, highly statistical significant differences were detected between control and primary pterygium tissues regarding COX-2 expression in surface epithelium (P <0.001), stromal inflammatory cells (P=0.001) and stromal blood vessels (P=0.004). Moreover, a highly statistical significant difference was found between control tissues and recurrent pterygium tissues concerning COX-2 expression in surface epithelium, stromal fibroblasts, inflammatory cells and blood vessels (P<0.001 in all). There was also a statistical significant difference between primary and recurrent pterygium tissues as regards COX-2 expression in surface epithelium (P=0.046), stromal fibroblasts (P=0.005), stromal inflammatory cells (P=0.007) and blood vessels (P= 0.051).
Conclusion:
COX-2 was highly expressed in pterygium tissues especially recurrent pterygium. It may play a role in pterygium formation and recurrence.
Other data
| Title | Immunohistochemichal Expression of Cyclooxygenase-2 in Primary and Recurrent Pterygium: Possible Role in Pathogenesis and Recurrence | Authors | Azza Mohamed Ahmed Said ; Rania Gamal Eldin Zaki ; Nermeen Salah Youssef | Keywords | cyclooxygenase 2;immunohistochemistry;pterygium | Issue Date | 2012 | Publisher | Journal of the Egyptian Ophthalmological Society | Source | Journal of the Egyptian Ophthalmological Society 2012; 105 (2):167-176. | Journal | Journal of the Egyptian Ophthalmological Society |
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