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The Ets‐1 Transcription Factor is Involved in Pterygial Angiogenesis
Author(s) -
NaibMajani W.,
Breipohl W.,
Shazli E. E.,
Theuerkauf I.,
Pleyer U.,
Hahne J. C.,
Wernert N.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
anatomia, histologia, embryologia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.34
H-Index - 35
eISSN - 1439-0264
pISSN - 0340-2096
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0264.2006.00730.x
Subject(s) - pterygium , angiogenesis , pathogenesis , stromal cell , in situ hybridization , transcription factor , pathology , medicine , cancer research , biology , messenger rna , gene , ophthalmology , genetics
Summary Pterygial pathology is characterized by abnormal corneal epithelial proliferation, stromal modulation, matrix degradation and a strong tendency for otherwise absent corneal vascularization. As the proto‐oncogene Ets‐1 is known to play a key role in angiogenesis and matrix degradation in other tissues, its involvement in corneal vascularization was investigated. Fifteen pterygia representing two groups were studied. Group 1 consisted of five clinically active pterygia, and group 2 consisted of 10 samples of clinically non‐active pterygia. 35 S‐labelled ets‐1 antisense and sense riboprobes were used for in‐situ hybridization of Ets‐1 transcription factor in all pterygia. The cytoplasm of blood vessel endothelial cells showed strong expression of ets‐1 mRNA in all group 1 pterygia. In contrast, no expression of ets‐1 was found in group 2 pterygia. Proto‐oncogene ets‐1 expression has been shown for the first time in the metaplastic pterygium, an eye tissue of unknown pathogenesis.