LOCALIZATION OF HEAT-SHOCK PROTEIN IN ORBITAL TISSUE FROM PATIENTS WITH GRAVES OPHTHALMOPATHY USING IN-SITU HYBRIDIZATION

We studied the cellular localization of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) synthesis in human orbital tissue from patients with Graves' ophthalmo pathy(GO) before and after immunosuppressive therapy. Synthesis was de tected using in situ hybridization techniques. In a specimen from a GO patient in active phase, strong expression of HSP70 mRNA was detected in infiltrating lymphocytes as well as in fibroblasts. HSP70 mRNA was also detected in orbital tissue fibroblasts from GO patients followin g treatment, but notin control specimens. HSP70 expression in the orbi tal tissue of GO patients may be important in mediation of the immune process.