[The abnormal expression of interleukine-1 family in pterygium].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the expression of interleukine 1 family including interleukin-1, (IL-1 alpha), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), interleukine-1 receptor antagonist, (IL-1RA) and interleukine-1 beta precursor by the epithelium in pterygium so as to understand the pathogenesis of this disorder.

METHODS

The immunoflurescent staining was performed in 10 patients with primary pterygium, compared to 10 normal conjunctival epithelium, to determine the expression of IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-1 beta RA and IL-1 beta precursor proteins

RESULTS

The IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta were present at whole epithelium while the IL-1 beta precursor was expressed by the superficial cells in normal conjunctival epithelium in immunofluorescent staining. No IL-1RA positive staining was found in normal conjunctiva. Of 10 pterygia, 7 pterygias were stained by IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta in the full thickness of epithelium, IL-1 beta precursor and IL-1RA in the superior cell and with strong staining compared to control group, 3 of them showed the similar staining pattern with normal conjunctiva.

CONCLUSION

The increasing IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-1 beta RA and IL-1 beta precursor proteins are presented in pterygium, which shows that the pterygium is in the state of no-infective inflammation.