Immunohistochemical study of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), tumor suppressor protein (p53) and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM-1) in the conjunctiva of diabetic patients

• Published in: Journal of Molecular Histology 2005-09, Vol.36 (6-7), p.381-390
• Main Authors: Kria, Lidia, Khalfaoui, Taoufik, Mkannez, Ghada, Beltaief, Omar, Anane, Raja, Errais, Khalil, Tounsi, Lilia, Zhioua, Raja, Jilani, Sarra Ben, Ouertani, Amel Meddeb
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Angiography; Cataracts; Cell adhesion molecules; Conjunctiva; Conjunctiva - pathology; Data processing; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - metabolism; Diabetic retinopathy; Diabetic Retinopathy - pathology; Endothelial cells; Female; Fibroblasts; fluorescein; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Immunoreactivity; intercellular adhesion molecule 1; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 - metabolism; Male; Medical imaging; Middle Aged; p53 protein; Retina; Retinopathy; Surgery; Tumor suppressor genes; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 - metabolism; Vascular endothelial growth factor; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - metabolism
• ISSN: 1567-2379; 1573-6865; 1567-2387
• DOI: 10.1007/s10735-005-9002-9

The expression pattern of VEGF, p53 and ICAM-1 was studied in conjunctiva of diabetic patients with and without retinopathy. All patients underwent a complete ophthalmic examination, including retinal fluorescein angiography. Indirect immunoperoxidase method was performed on 20 eyes of 20 patients with type II diabetes without DR and on 5 eyes of 5 patients with PDR. A control study was performed on 6 normal conjunctiva undertaken during cataract surgery. Immunoreactivity of VEGF, p53 and ICAM-1 was found in epithelial, fibroblast and vascular endothelial cells. For the same duration of diabetes, a strong to moderate or weak immunoreactivity was observed in the conjunctiva of patients without retinopathy. In patients with PDR, the expression was strong for all these proteins. The immunoreactivity was correlated between VEGF, p53 and ICAM-1. In the normal conjunctiva, a weak to negative immunostaining was observed. The presence of these proteins in the conjunctiva of diabetic patients without retinopathy may add new data in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy. Further studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis.