Korean J Ophthalmol.  2008 Mar;22(1):37-42. 10.3341/kjo.2008.22.1.37.

Differences in the Histopathology and Matrix Metalloproteinase Expression in Tenon's Tissue of Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma and Primary Angle-Closure Glaucoma

• Seo JH
• Park KH
• Kim YJ
• Yoo YC
• Kang SH
• Kim DM

• KMID: 1107489
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/kjo.2008.22.1.37

Abstract

PURPOSE: To investigate the differences in the histopathology and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression in the Tenon's tissue of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients, primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) patients, and non-glaucomatous patients. METHODS: POAG and PACG patients, who underwent a trabeculectomy and had no history of ocular disease except glaucoma, were enrolled. The number and instillation period of topical eye drops were reviewed. For the controls, which were patients without glaucoma or a history of ocular surgery, the Tenon's tissue was obtained in the course of retinal detachment surgery. For glaucoma patients, the Tenon's tissue was obtained during the trabeculectomy. H&E and Masson's trichrome staining and immunohistochemistry for MMP-1, MMP-2, and MMP-9 were performed. A total of six eyes of POAG, six eyes of PACG, and four control eyes were evaluated. RESULTS: The duration of topical anti-glaucoma medication and the mean number of anti-glaucoma medications were similar in the POAG and PACG groups. The levels of MMP-1 and 2 were elevated in the POAG and PACG groups compared to the control group (p=0.03, 0.01, respectively). Compared with the control group, the MMP-2 level was higher in the POAG patients (p=0.01), whereas the MMP-1 was higher in the PACG patients (p=0.04). The levels of MMP-9 in the POAG and PACG patients were not significantly different from that of the control patients (p=0.48, 0.26). The levels of MMP-2 were significantly lower in the PACG patients than in the POAG patients (p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: The MMP expression was altered in the Tenon's tissue of glaucoma patients compared to the control group. The levels of MMP-2 were lower in the PACG patients than in the POAG patients. These results suggest that there may be histopathological differences in the Tenon's tissue of POAG and PACG patients.

Keyword

Matrix metalloproteinase; PACG; POAG; Tenon's tissue

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Connective Tissue/*enzymology
Glaucoma, Angle-Closure/*enzymology/surgery
Glaucoma, Open-Angle/*enzymology/surgery
Humans
Immunoenzyme Techniques
Matrix Metalloproteinase 1/*metabolism
Matrix Metalloproteinase 2/*metabolism
Matrix Metalloproteinase 9/*metabolism
Middle Aged
Trabeculectomy

Figure

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  Fig. 1 H&E stain, Masson's Trichrome stain, and immunohistochemistry of the Tenon's tissue of the control group (A), POAG group (B), PACG group (C), Positive Control (D: adenocarcinoma of colon), Negative Control (E: sections were prepared with PBS instead of primary antibody MMP-1, 2, and 9) (magnification ×200) The Tenon's tissue of both the POAG and the PACG patients under H&E and Masson's trichrome staining showed higher subepithelial collagen and fibroblast density than that of the controls. The fibrosis under H&E and Masson's trichrome staining appeared to be more advanced in the POAG patients than in the PACG patients (arrow). Compared with the controls, the level of MMP-1 and 2 were higher in the POAG patients (grade 2, 3, respectively). The expression of MMP-2 was lower in the PACG patients than the POAG patients. The level of MMP-9 was less in POAG and PACG patients than the controls.

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