An investigation of human beta-defensins and cathelicidin expression in patients with pterygium

ABSTRACT Purpose: To investigate human beta-defensins (HBDs) and cathelicidin LL-37 (LL-37) expressions in patients with pterygium. Methods: In this retrospective consecutive case series, 26 pterygium specimens and 15 normal conjunctival specimens of 15 control subjects were in vestigated. Expressions of HBD-1, HBD-2, HBD-3, and LL-37 were assessed using immuno histochemical staining. A brown color in the cytoplasm and/or nuclei of epithelial cells indicated positive staining for HBDs and LL-37. For each antibody, the intensity of the reaction (negative [-], weak [1+], moderate [2+], or strong [3+]) was determined to describe the immunoreactions. Results: The median age was 52 years in both groups. There were no significant differences in age and sex between the groups (p=0.583, p=0.355, respectively). Of the 26 pterygium specimens, 15 (57.7%) (14 weak, 1 moderate staining) showed HBD-2 expression, which was not observed in any of the control specimens. One (3.8%) pterygium and one (6.7%) control specimen demonstrated weak staining for HBD-3. HBD-2 expression was significantly higher in the pterygium specimens than in the controls (p=0.002). None of the tissue specimens had positive staining for HBD-1 or LL-37 in either group (both; p=1.00). Conclusions: HBD-2 expression was higher in pterygium specimens than in the controls. HBD-2 expression that might be stimulated by inflammatory cytokines may be related to inflammation and fibrovascular proliferation and may play a role in pterygium pathogenesis.

摘要
研究目的：探讨翼状胬肉患者体内人β防御素（human beta-defensins, HBDs）与LL-37抗菌肽（cathelicidin LL-37, LL-37）的表达情况。
研究方法：本研究为回顾性连续病例系列研究，共纳入26例翼状胬肉标本及15名对照受试者的15例正常结膜标本。采用免疫组织化学染色法检测HBD-1、HBD-2、HBD-3及LL-37的表达水平。上皮细胞胞质及/或胞核呈棕黄色，判定为HBDs与LL-37免疫染色阳性。针对每种抗体，通过免疫反应强度（阴性[-]、弱阳性[1+]、中度阳性[2+]及强阳性[3+]）描述其免疫反应情况。
研究结果：两组受试者的中位年龄均为52岁，年龄及性别构成比均无显著统计学差异（分别为p=0.583、p=0.355）。26例翼状胬肉标本中，15例（57.7%，其中14例为弱阳性染色、1例为中度阳性染色）呈现HBD-2表达，而所有对照标本均未检测到HBD-2表达。1例（3.8%）翼状胬肉标本及1例（6.7%）对照标本呈HBD-3弱阳性染色。翼状胬肉标本的HBD-2表达水平显著高于对照组（p=0.002）。两组所有组织标本均未检测到HBD-1及LL-37的阳性染色（二者p值均为1.00）。
研究结论：翼状胬肉标本的HBD-2表达水平高于对照组。可能由炎症细胞因子诱导的HBD-2表达或与炎症反应及纤维血管增殖相关，并可能参与翼状胬肉的发病机制。