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Expression of placental growth factor, neuropilin-1, and neuropilin-2 in primary pterygium tissue

  • Inflammatory Disorders
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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of placental growth factor (PLGF), neuropilin-1 (NP-1), and neuropilin-2 (NP-2) molecules in primary pterygium tissue compared with normal conjunctival tissue.

Methods

The records of 42 patients who underwent excision surgery with autografts for primary pterygium (pterygium group) and 20 patients who underwent conjunctival nevus excision surgery (control group) in the same period were reviewed retrospectively. The samples obtained from the pterygium tissues in the pterygium group and the clean conjunctival tissues adjacent to the nevus in the control group were collected from the archive. Immunohistochemical stains of the primary antibodies—1/100 diluted PLGF, NP-1, and NP-2 (Abcam Cambridge Science Park, UK)—were applied to all groups. Staining intensities and the percentage of positive cells in epithelial, endothelial, stromal, and inflammatory cells were analyzed by an experienced pathologist.

Results

The positivity rates of PLGF and NP-2 expression in epithelial, endothelial, stromal, and inflammatory cells were found to be higher in the pterygium group than in the control group (PLGF: p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively; NP-2: p < 0.001 for all). Staining intensities for PLGF and NP-2 were higher in the pterygium group than in the control group (PLGF: p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.005, and p < 0.001, respectively; NP-2: p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively). However, no significant differences were found in any cell type in terms of NP-1 expression positivity rates (p = 0.730, p = 0.121, p = 0.524, and p = 0.624, respectively) or staining intensity (p = 0.716, p = 0.147, p = 0.147, and p = 0.780, respectively).

Conclusion

PLGF and NP-2 levels were found to be higher in pterygium tissue, while there was no difference in NP-1. These results indicate the possible roles of NP-2 and PLGF in primary pterygium.

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Funding

This study was supported by Necmettin Erbakan University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit (Project number: 211518003).

The work has been done without receiving any financial support from any third party.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Yozgat City Hospital, Yozgat, Turkey

    Ali Osman Gundogan

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, Meram Faculty of Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey

    Refik Oltulu & Selman Belviranli

  3. Department of Pathology, Meram Faculty of Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey

    Pembe Oltulu

Authors
  1. Ali Osman Gundogan
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  2. Refik Oltulu
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  3. Selman Belviranli
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  4. Pembe Oltulu
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. AOG, RO, and PO contributed to the acquisition of data. AOG and SB contributed to the analysis and interpretation of data. AOG and SB drafted the manuscript. RO and PO were involved in critical revision. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ali Osman Gundogan.

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Ethical approval

This study was approved by the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of Necmettin Erbakan University and followed the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki. (Decision No: 2020/1492).

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Gundogan, A.O., Oltulu, R., Belviranli, S. et al. Expression of placental growth factor, neuropilin-1, and neuropilin-2 in primary pterygium tissue. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 262, 957–965 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-023-06280-1

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