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  • Title: Immunolocalization of bFGF in pterygia: association with mast cells.
    Author: Powers MR, Qu Z, O'Brien B, Wilson DJ, Thompson JE, Rosenbaum JT.
    Journal: Cornea; 1997 Sep; 16(5):545-9. PubMed ID: 9294687.
    Abstract:
    PURPOSE: To examine the expression of basic fibroblast growth factor in 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 study the expression of bFGF with immunohistochemistry. Seven samples were 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 subset of connective tissue cells. The majority of bFGF-positive connective tissue cells were also tryptase positive (90.4 +/- 3.6%). Nearly all the tryptase-positive cells (mast cells) in the pterygia tissues coexpressed bFGF (98 +/- 1.5%). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that bFGF may have biologic effects on the epithelium and blood vessels in pterygia, 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 extracellular matrix in pterygia.
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