Endothelial metaplasia in the iridocorneal endothelial syndrome.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To test the hypothesis that the aberrant, cytokeratin-expressing cells that replace endothelium in the iridocorneal endothelial (ICE) syndrome are of endothelial origin.

METHODS:

Corneas from four patients with Chandler's syndrome and three with essential iris atrophy were examined by two-color immunofluorescence for simultaneous expression of cytokeratins and two markers of endothelial lineage: vimentin and the antigen recognized by the antiendothelial monoclonal antibody 2B4.14.1.

RESULTS:

In six corneas, unequivocal endothelial staining for cytokeratins was present; in each of these, cells coexpressing cytokeratins and the two endothelial markers were clearly identifiable. In the remaining cornea, weak cytokeratin staining that colocalized with vimentin was present.

CONCLUSIONS:

These results lend strong support to the hypothesis that the "epithelial-like" endothelial cells in ICE syndrome are cells of endothelial lineage rather than heterotopia of epithelial cells; these cells probably arise via a metaplastic transformation of preexisting endothelium.

• Authors: D N Howell, T Damms, J L Burchette Jr, W R Green
• Journal: Investigative ophthalmology & visual science (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci) Vol. 38 Issue 9 Pg. 1896-901 (Aug 1997) ISSN: 0146-0404 [Print] United States
• PMID: 9286281 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Monoclonal
• Vimentin
• Keratins

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Antibodies, Monoclonal
• Corneal Diseases (metabolism, pathology)
• Endothelium, Corneal (metabolism, pathology)
• Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
• Humans
• Iris Diseases (metabolism, pathology)
• Keratins (metabolism)
• Metaplasia
• Middle Aged
• Syndrome
• Vimentin (metabolism)