J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2004 May;45(5):720-724.

Increased Tear TNF-alpha and MMP-9 in Patients with Necrotizing Scleritis after Pterygium Excision

• Shin JC
• Im CY
• Lee JH
• Seo KY

Abstract

PURPOSE
We collected tear or scleral tissues of necrotizing scleritis after pterygium excision, and evaluated them for tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 to elucidate the molecular basis and seek for treatment of this disease. METHODS: Three patients with necrotizing scleritis after pterygium excision were evaluated for MMP-9 and TNF-alpha in tear and scleral tissue by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Before treatment with corticosteroid, the patients' tear samples showed increased expression of TNF-alpha and MMP-9 compared to those of the contralateral eye. After treatment, the expression of TNF-alpha and MMP-9 was decreased compared to those of the pre-treated tear samples. The patients' sclera showed increased expression of MMP-9 compared to that of the donors' sclera and the patients' conjunctiva. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that cytokine-related inflammation plays a role in the pathophysiology of necrotizing scleritis and strongly supports, under the guarantee of negative microbiological culture, the prompt use of corticosteroid and immunosuppressive agents to help suppress the progression of this disease.

Keyword

Corticosteroid; Matrix metalloproteinase-9; Necrotizing scleritis; Tumor necrosis factor-alpha

MeSH Terms

Blotting, Western
Conjunctiva
Humans
Immunosuppressive Agents
Inflammation
Matrix Metalloproteinase 9
Pterygium*
Sclera
Scleritis*
Tears*
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha*
Immunosuppressive Agents
Matrix Metalloproteinase 9
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha