[Role of macrophages and fibronectin in vitreoretinal proliferation].

Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) is characterized by the periretinal proliferation of nonneoplastic cells complicated by traction retinal detachment. In this study, we report the demonstration of macrophages, which are thought to be involved in the etiology of this intraocular disease, in human periretinal membranes by an immunochemical staining procedure using a monoclonal anti-human macrophage antibody. Fibronectin, a high-molecular protein of plasma and extracellular matrix, may be visualized accordingly and could act concomitantly with macrophages as an important factor in PVR. Fibronectin is shown to be present in high quantities (Elisa) in vitreous aspirates from patients with PVR. We hypothesize that the interaction of macrophages and fibronectin may be a crucial step in the development of PVR.