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[A study of adhesion molecule expression in extraocular muscles of Graves' ophthalmopathy]
1Department of Ophthalmology, First Affiliated Hospital, West China University of Medical Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China.
Objective:
To investigate the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in extraocular muscles (EOM) of the eyes with Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO).
Methods:
Seventeen EOM specimens obtained from 16 severe patients with GO and their cryostat sections were observed by double labeling immunohistochemical methods.
Results:
The expression of ICAM-1 was observed in interstitial and perimysial connective tissue surrounding EOM fibers, mononuclear cells, fibroblasts and vascular endothelial cells. Only were vascular endothelial cells stained for VCAM-1, and ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 immunoreactivities were not detected in EOM cells.
Conclusions:
The findings indicate that ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 might be involved in the development of GO, and fibroblasts, vascular endothelial cells and mononuclear cells might play important roles in the autoimmune reaction.