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Immunohistochemical expression of epithelial cell markers in corneas with congenital aniridia and ocular cicatrizing pemphigoid
Article first published online: 24 JUN 2009
DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2009.01603.x
© 2009 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2009 Acta Ophthalmol
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How to Cite
Auw-Haedrich, C., Agrawal, M., Gabbert, H. E., Meyer, P., Arnold, N. and Reinhard, T. (2011), Immunohistochemical expression of epithelial cell markers in corneas with congenital aniridia and ocular cicatrizing pemphigoid. Acta Ophthalmologica, 89: 47–53. doi: 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2009.01603.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 24 JUN 2009
- Article first published online: 24 JUN 2009
- Received on August 4th, 2008. Accepted on February 24th, 2009.
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Keywords:
- congenital aniridia;
- cytokeratin;
- limbal stem cell deficiency;
- pemphigoid
Acta Ophthalmol. 2011: 89: 47–53
Abstract.
Purpose: We investigated the immunohistochemical characteristics of corneal specimens in congenital aniridia and pemphigoid using various corneal markers to determine the status of the corneal epithelium.
Methods: Conjunctivalization was clinically suspected in all corneas. Ten aniridia and seven pemphigoid paraffin-embedded corneal specimens were stained with periodic Schiff reagent (PAS) and antibodies against CK3/12, CK12, CK19, breast cancer resistance protein 1 (BCRP) and p63.
Results: Aniridia: six cases contained goblet cells, four were negative. Both groups had cases with (three of six; one of four) and without CK19 positivity and cases with (two of six; three of four) and without p63 positivity. All aniridia cases except two in the goblet cell group were CK3/12- and CK12-positive and BCRP-negative. Pemphigoid: only one of the seven cases contained goblet cells. This case stained positively for CK19, 3/12, 12 and p63 and negatively for BCRP. The other six cases were positive for CK3/12, five of which were positive for CK12; only one case was CK19-positive. Three cases were p63-positive and two BCRP-positive. The CK12 staining was heterogenous in most cases and was often found in the superficial layer.
Conclusion: Three different stages of epithelial characteristics were found in congenital aniridia and pemphigoid: (i) CK19-negative and inhomogenous CK12-positive cases indicating epithelium mainly from (partly) CK12-deficient limbal stem cells; (ii) CK19- and/or goblet cell-positive and CK12-positive cases with their epithelia originating from CK12-deficient limbal stem cells and from incursing conjunctival cells; and (iii) CK19-positive and CK12-negative cases consisting of conjunctival cells alone.