Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate the expression of Pax6 in pterygia epithelium.
Methods: :
Fifteen patients (15 eyes) with pterygium who underwent simple excision were enrolled in this study. Pax6, K10, K19 and MUC5AC immunostaining were performed in pterygia tissue and normal conjunctiva.
Results: :
Abnormal epidermal differentiation of pterygia epithelium evidenced by decline or absence of Pax6 expression was accompanied by a decline or absence of K19 keratin and MUC5AC but increase of K10 keratin expression.
Conclusions: :
These results indicate that down-regulation of Pax6 is associated with abnormal differentiation of the epithelial cells in pterygium.
Keywords: conjunctiva • pterygium