Cell adhesion molecules in stromal corneal dystrophies
Gabor Nemeth1, Szabolcs Felszeghy2, Annamaria Kenyeres2, Nora Szentmary3, Andras Berta1, Ildiko Suveges3 and Laszlo Modis1
1Department of Ophthalmology, Medical and Health Science Center, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary, 2Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Medical and Health Science Center, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary and 3Department of Ophthalmology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary .
Offprint requests to: Gabor Nemeth M.D. Department of Ophthalmology, Medical and Health Science Center, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei krt.98, 4012 Debrecen, Hungary. e-mail: nemeth222@yahoo.com
Summary. The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression pattern of different cell adhesion molecules in corneal stromal dystrophies. Fifteen corneal buttons from patients diagnosed with three different types of stromal corneal dystrophies and healthy corneas were investigated. Paraffin embedded sections were stained immunohistochemically with monoclonal antibodies against human intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), endothelial selectin (E-selectin) and endothelial cadherin (E-cadherin) using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase-complex technique. The sections were compared to normal eye bank controls.
In corneas from granular dystrophy patients ICAM-1 was expressed focally in epithelial cells and in keratocytes, and expressed diffusely in endothelial cells. In corneas from macular dystrophy patients diffuse epithelial staining was observed and the stromal and endothelial expression was found to be similar to that of granular dystrophy. In lattice dystrophy, only the epithelial cells and endothelium were intensively positive for ICAM-1. E-selectin was not present on any layer of the corneal specimens. E-cadherin was observed only in the epithelium of all three types of corneal dystrophies. Normal corneas did not express any of the investigated adhesion molecules.
We found different expression patterns of adhesion molecules in corneas from stromal dystrophies. Our results suggest that adhesion molecules may be involved in the pathogenesis of corneal stromal dystrophies. Histol Histopathol 23, 945-952 (2008)
Key words: Stromal corneal dystrophy, Cell adhesion molecule, Intercellular adhesion molecule-1, E-selectin, E-cadherin, Immunohistochemistry
DOI: 10.14670/HH-23.945