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Conjunctivochalasis is an age-related inflammatory ocular surface disease manifesting redundant, loose conjunctiva folds.Studies showed that conjunctivochalasis often accompanies with inflammatory response, indicating that a variety of inflammatory cytokines are involved in pathogenesis of conjunctivochalasis.
This study attempted to investigate the expressions of pentraxin-3 (PTX-3) and tumor necrosis factor-α stimulated gene-6(TSG-6) proteins in fibroblasts of conjunctivochalasis.
The protocol was approved by Ethic Committee of Putuo Hospital affiliated Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.Thirteen eyes of 13 patients with conjunctivochalasis, 16 eyes of 16 patients with age-related cataract and 16 eyes of 15 patients with pterygium were included in Putuo Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Medicine from January, 2011 to June, 2012.The samples of conjunctival tissue were collected in the patients during surgery under the informed consent, and fibroblasts were cultured and passaged by explant culture method.Content of PTX-3 and TSG-6 proteins in cell supernatant was detected by ELISA.
Translucent poor, dark black area was around the cell overflow.Cultured cells of third generation showed long shuttle type, uniform size, radiated out in all directions, and oval nuclei was sited in the cytoplasm, surrounded by varying the length of cross-linking of cell processes.The concentrations of PTX-3 protein in cell supernatant were (2 182.33±738.68)pg/ml in the conjunctivochalasis group, which were higher than (738.32±335.00)pg/ml in the age-related cataract group and (981.37±416.04)pg/ml in the pterygium group, showing a significant difference among the three groups (F=6.474, P=0.032). The contents of TSG-6 proteins in cell supernatant were (59.10±6.52)pg/ml, (53.99±11.16)pg/ml and (35.01±5.33)pg/ml in the conjunctivochalasis group, pterygium group and age-related cataract group, with a significant difference among the three groups (F=7.421, P=0.024), and contents of TSG-6 proteins in the age-related cataract group was lowest, however, no significant difference was found in the TSG-6 contents between the conjunctivochalasis group and the pterygium group (P>0.05).
Inflammatory reaction participates in the pathogenesis and development of conjunctivochalasis, up-regulation of PTX-3 and TSG-6 expression in fibroblasts might partakes in the pathogenesis of conjunctivochalasis.