Abstract
Purpose: :
We have previously reported that the conjunctiva in Behçet’s disease revealed stronger staining of Type IV collagen compared to sarcoidosis and Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada’s disease, with positive staining of interleukin (IL)-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor (ARVO 2006). We further investigated immunohistological changes in the lens capsule and iris of Behçet’s disease.
Methods: :
Dislocated lens capsule and prolapsed iris as well as biopsy specimens of the limbal conjunctiva were surgically obtained from 4 eyes of 3 males with incomplete type Behçet’s disease. The males were 45, 50 and 72 years old with history of uveitis involving both the anterior and posterior segments. Two eyes were in the active stage. History of Behçet’s disease was 11-24 years and cataract surgery had been performed 4-18 years before. Control specimens of the conjunctiva, lens capsule and iris were obtained from uncomplicated eyes undergoing cataract surgery or glaucoma surgery. None were diabetic. The extracted tissues were subjected to immunohistochemical studies. Informed consent was obtained from all patients.
Results: :
Type IV collagen staining of the conjunctiva in Behçet’s disease was enhanced in the nerve fiber bundles and vascular walls. In the two eyes with Behçet’s disease in the active stage, Type IV collagen staining was pronounced in all layers of the lens capsule. In the two eyes in the inactive stage, Type IV collagen staining of the capsule was positive in the area neighboring the anterior chamber or the epithelial cells as well as in the contracted portion of the anterior capsule. Type IV collagen staining of the iris of one eye in the active stage was strong in the pupillary sphincter muscles and in multiple vascular walls of the stroma. Immunological activity of IL-1 in Behçet’s disease was positive both in the basal cell layer of the epithelium and in the myelinated nerve fiber bundle of the conjunctiva, and weak in the lens capsule and iris. In the control eyes, staining of Type IV collagen in the anterior capsule was positive in the area neighboring the epithelial cells with the response diminishing toward the superficial layer. IL-1 staining in the control capsule revealed no positive cells. Staining of both Type IV collagen and IL-1 in the control eyes was weak in the conjunctiva as well as in the iris.
Conclusions: :
Inflammatory changes were present in the conjunctiva, lens capsule and iris in eyes with Behçet’s disease.
Keywords: uveitis-clinical/animal model • immunohistochemistry • pathology: human