HEAT-SHOCK PROTEIN EXPRESSION IN HUMAN CONJUNCTIVA

Purpose. To examine the distribution of human heat shock proteins (HSP s) HSP90, inducible HSP70 (iHSP70), constitutive and inducible HSP70 ( cHSP70), HSP65, and human HSP27 in conjunctival biopsy specimens of oc ular cicatricial pemphigoid (OCP), atopic keratoconjunctivitis, and he althy persons with cataract. Methods. Using an immunoperoxidase techni que, conjunctival biopsy specimens from ten patients with ocular cicat ricial pemphigoid, ten patients with atopic keratoconjunctivitis and t en healthy persons undergoing cataract surgery were analyzed with a pa nel of monoclonal antibodies directed against human HSPs. Results. Lar ge amounts of HSP90 and HSP27, and lesser amounts of cHSP70, iHSP70, a nd HSP65 were present in atopic keratoconjunctivitis and normal epithe lium; less of these proteins were seen in OCP conjunctival epithelium. In atopic keratoconjunctivitis and normal tissue the substantia propr ia contained a few HSP-positive cells, and the vascular endothelium wa s consistently negative for all of the HSPs. In sharp contrast, OCP st roma contained large numbers of cells staining for HSP27, HSP90, and i HSP70, and the vasculature was strongly positive, particularly for HSP 90, cHSP70, and HSP27. Conclusion. These results indicate that normal and atopic keratoconjunctivitis epithelia express HSP90 and HSP27 and some form of HSP65 and HSP70. The differences between normal, atopic k eratoconjunctivitis, and OCP stromal staining suggest an upregulated e xpression of HSP90, cHSP70, and HSP27 at the site of inflammation in O CP, the stroma, from cytokine release. The striking presence of HSP in the conjunctival vascular endothelium from OCP patients suggests a pr eviously unappreciated role of the vasculature in OCP.