Immunohistochemical detection of Hsp90 and Ki-67 in pterygium

Abstract

Background: To examine the immunohistochemical expression of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) and Ki-67 protein in human pterygium. Materials and methods: Tissues obtained during pterygium surgery of 15 patients who underwent the bare-sclera procedure and 10 normal conjunctivae were studied. All of these pterygia were primary ones. Recurrent pterygia were excluded. Normal bulbar conjunctivas (2 x 2 mm) were obtained from the nasal region close to the limbus from patients during their cataract and retina surgeries. Immunohistochemical detection of Hsp90 and Ki67 was done using the streptavidin-biotin method in paraffin embedded tissue sections. Results: The percentage of cells stained for Hsp90 was greater for pterygium epithelium (76 ± 10.8) than for normal conjunctiva (1.4 ± 0.8). In each pterigyum sample more than 60% of cells were positive. The differences in positive cells between normal and pterigyum epithelium were highly significant for Hsp90 (P < 0,001). Pterygium epithelium also showed a higher percentage of cells that stained for Ki67 (10.1 ± 9.5) than for normal conjunctiva (2.1 ± 1.9). The differences in positive cells were also statistically significant for Ki67 (P < 0.01). Although there were significant differences in the majority of samples observed. It was noted that in some samples there was no difference between normal and pterygium epithelium for Ki67. Conclusion: Our results indicate an abnormal expression of Hsp90 and ki-67 in pterygium samples when compared to normal conjunctiva. The finding of abnormal expression of levels of Hsp90 in pterygium samples can stimulate new research into pterygium and its recurrence. Virtual Slides: The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/1128478792898812. © 2013 Sebastiá et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.