IMMUNOLOCALIZATION OF BFGF IN PTERYGIA - ASSOCIATION WITH MAST-CELLS

Purpose, To examine the expression of basic fibroblast growth factor i n pterygia and determine whether mast cells contain basic fibroblast, growth factor (bFGF) in this disease process. Methods. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples of pterygia (n = 14) were used to stu dy the expression of bFGF with immunohistochemistry. Seven samples wer e also double labeled with specific antibodies to bFGF and tryptase (a specific mast cell marker). Results. In all tissue samples examined, bFGF was specifically localized in blood vessels, epithelium, and a su bset of connective tissue cells. The majority of bFGF-positive connect ive tissue cells were also tryptase positive (90.4+/-3.6%). Nearly all the tryptase-positive cells (mast cells) in the pterygia tissues coex pressed bFCF (98+/-1.5%). Conclusions. These findings suggest that bFG F may have biologic effects on the epithelium and blood vessels in pte rygia, with epithelial and endothelial cells as a possible source. In addition, mast cells contain bFGF in the pterygia tissues examined in this study. The mast cells may serve as an additional source of bFGF, possibly modulating a variety of cell types as well as the extracellul ar matrix in pterygia.