Chronic inflammatory cells and damaged limbal cells in pterygium

Abstract

Background: Chronic inflammation in pterygium occurrence has not been explained. Whether damaged limbal basal epithelial cells are associated with pterygium occurrence in black Africans is not clear. Objective: To explain chronic inflammation in pterygium, and to clarify whether damaged limbal basal epithelial cells were associated with pterygium occurrence in black Africans. Methods: Chronic inflammatory changes and damaged limbal basal epithelial cells were assessed in 59 samples. Results: Chronic inflammatory cells were present in 59 pterygia. Inflammatory cell count in 5 (27.8%) of 18 small pterygia was >200 (high) while in 22 (53.7%) of 41 large growths was <200 (low); p = 0.25. The proportion of pterygia with high counts tended to increase with pterygium extent. Twenty (33.9%) of 59 pterygia recurred after surgery. Ten (50%) of 20 samples had high cell counts and 10 (50%), low counts; p = 0.40. P53 expression was detected in 11 (18.6%) of 59 pterygium samples and 5 (71.4%) of 7 controls; p = 0.007. MMP 1 staining was present in 14 (23.7%) of 59 sections and 5 (71.4%) of 7 controls; p = 0.02. MMP2 in 16 (27.1%) cases and 5 (71.4%) controls; p = 0.03. MMP3 was overexpressed in 16 (27.1%) of 59 cases and 5 (71.4%) controls; p = 0.03. Conclusions: Mild chronic inflammation has a tendency to be more frequent than severe inflammation in pterygia. It is clear that damaged limbal basal epithelial cells are unlikely to be related to pterygium occurrence.

Upregulation of Toll-like receptor 5 expression in the conjunctival epithelium of various human ocular surface diseases

“…Therefore, upregulation of TLR5 in the epithelium of the conjunctival tissues of SJS, OCP, and chemical eye burns might be involved in the chronic inflammation of these respective diseases. Although it has been reported that there are chronic inflammatory cells in pterygium,15 the difference of the extent of TLR5 expression between pterygium and the devastating ocular surface disorders might suggest the different quality of the chronic inflammation.…”

Young patient’s age determines pterygium recurrence after surgery

“…It is possible that those pterygia had stopped growing thus; young age is not tantamount to progress. Since MMPs are underexpressed in fibroblasts and stroma of individuals with chronic solar conjunctivitis, 16 suggesting presence of transforming growth factor-beta, 17 we imagine that a decrease in available growth factors to a level that is insufficient to promote fibrovascular proliferation that causes pterygium, yet enough to suppress MMPs may well explain lack of pterygium progress. Fibroblast mitotic rate has been shown to be proportional to the level of growth factors.…”

Evaluation of Neutrophil–Lymphocyte Ratios, Mean Platelet Volumes and Platelet–Lymphocyte Ratios in Pterygium

“…Anguria et al (16) also showed chronic inflammatory cell activation and presentation in pterygium pathology specimens. In addition, the cell counts were related to the severity of the inflammation and UV exposure was suspected as being responsible for the induced inflammatory cells in pterygium tissues.…”