Barba-Gallardo Luis Fernando, Ocón-Garcia Sofía Guadalupe, Avila-Blanco Manuel Enrique, Diaz-Rubio José Luis, Ventura-Juárez Javier, Casillas-Casillas Elizabeth, Muñoz-Ortega Martín Humberto
Health Science Center, Autonomus University of Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes C.P. 20100, Mexico.
Basic Science Center, Autonomus University of Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes C.P. 20100, Mexico.
Int J Mol Sci. 2025 Aug 1;26(15):7417. doi: 10.3390/ijms26157417.
Several chronic inflammatory processes are currently being studied in relation to other systems to better understand the regulation mechanisms and identify potential therapeutic targets. A significant body of evidence supports the role of the nervous system in regulating various immunological processes. This study investigates the relationship between pterygia and the sympathetic nervous system, focusing on their interaction in the inflammatory response and fibrogenic process. Sixteen surgical specimens of primary pterygia and four conjunctival tissue samples were examined, and their morphology was analyzed using hematoxylin-eosin and Masson's trichrome stains. The gene expression of adrenergic receptors, as well as inflammatory and fibrogenic cytokines, was also assessed. Additionally, both adrenergic receptors and tyrosine hydroxylase were found to be localized within the tissues according to immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence techniques. Increased expression of proinflammatory, fibrogenic, and adrenergic genes was observed in the pterygium compared to the healthy conjunctiva. Adrenergic receptors and tyrosine hydroxylase were localized in the basal region of the epithelium and within blood vessels, closely associated with immune cells. Neuroimmunomodulation plays a key role in the pathogenesis of pterygia by activating the sympathetic nervous system. At the intravascular level, norepinephrine promotes the migration of immune cells, thereby sustaining inflammation. Additionally, sympathetic nerve fibers located at the subepithelial level contribute to epithelial growth and the fibrosis associated with pterygia.
目前正在研究几种慢性炎症过程与其他系统的关系，以更好地理解调节机制并确定潜在的治疗靶点。大量证据支持神经系统在调节各种免疫过程中的作用。本研究调查了翼状胬肉与交感神经系统之间的关系，重点关注它们在炎症反应和纤维化过程中的相互作用。检查了16个原发性翼状胬肉手术标本和4个结膜组织样本，并使用苏木精-伊红染色和Masson三色染色分析其形态。还评估了肾上腺素能受体以及炎症和纤维化细胞因子的基因表达。此外，根据免疫组织化学和免疫荧光技术，发现肾上腺素能受体和酪氨酸羟化酶均定位于组织内。与健康结膜相比，翼状胬肉中促炎、纤维化和肾上腺素能基因的表达增加。肾上腺素能受体和酪氨酸羟化酶定位于上皮的基底区域和血管内，与免疫细胞密切相关。神经免疫调节通过激活交感神经系统在翼状胬肉的发病机制中起关键作用。在血管内水平，去甲肾上腺素促进免疫细胞的迁移，从而维持炎症。此外，位于上皮下水平的交感神经纤维有助于上皮生长和与翼状胬肉相关的纤维化。
