Increased plasma levels of nerve growth factor in vernal keratoconjunctivitis and relationship to conjunctival mast cells
| Autor: | Lambiase A (1, Bonini S (1), Bonini S (3), Micera A (2), Magrini L (3), Bracci-Laudiero L (2), Aloe L (2). |
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| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Rok vydání: | 1995 |
| Předmět: | |
| Zdroj: | Investigative ophthalmology & visual science 36 (1995): 2127–2132. info:cnr-pdr/source/autori:Lambiase A (1,2), Bonini S (1), Bonini S (3), Micera A (2), Magrini L (3), Bracci-Laudiero L (2), Aloe L (2)./titolo:Increased plasma levels of nerve growth factor in vernal keratoconjunctivitis and relationship to conjunctival mast cells./doi:/rivista:Investigative ophthalmology & visual science/anno:1995/pagina_da:2127/pagina_a:2132/intervallo_pagine:2127–2132/volume:36 |
| Popis: | PURPOSE: To evaluate the nerve growth factor (NGF) plasma concentration in patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis and to correlate it with the histopathology and immunopathology of the disease. METHODS: An immunoenzymatic assay was performed to measure NGF plasma levels in patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis and in healthy matched controls. A competitive radioimmunoassay was used to detect eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and total specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) serum levels. Histologic evaluation was performed in tarsal and bulbar conjunctival biopsies. RESULTS: Plasma levels of NGF were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis (mean = 8224.47 +/- 7802.53 pg/ml; median = 121 pg/ml) than in controls (mean = 51.68 +/- 5.94 pg/ml; median 42.5 pg/ml). Conjunctival tissue showed a significant increase of mast cells, eosinophils, and lymphocytes in vernal keratoconjunctivitis. A significant correlation was observed between plasma levels of NGF and the number of mast cells in the tarsal conjunctiva (Cc = 0.81; P < 0.005) and bulbar conjunctiva (Cc = 0.77; P < 0.01) of patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis. No correlation was found between NGF plasma levels and total IgE serum levels in patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis; NGF plasma levels were inversely related to the number of circulating eosinophils (Cc = -0.61; P < 0.05) and to the increased serum levels of ECP (Cc = -0.71; P < 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: These data represent the first reported evidence of increased NGF plasma levels in an allergic human disease and suggest a possible relationship between this neurotrophic polypeptide and inflammatory cells in vernal keratoconjunctivitis. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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