春季角结膜炎患者血浆中神经生长因子水平升高及其与结膜肥大细胞的关系

Increased plasma levels of nerve growth factor in vernal keratoconjunctivitis and relationship to conjunctival mast cells.

作者信息

Lambiase A, Bonini S, Bonini S, Micera A, Magrini L, Bracci-Laudiero L, Aloe L

机构信息

Department of Ophthalmology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy.

出版信息

Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1995 Sep;36(10):2127-32.

PMID:7657550

Abstract

PURPOSE

To evaluate the nerve growth factor (NGF) plasma concentration in patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis and to correlate it with the histopathology and immunopathology of the disease.

METHODS

An immunoenzymatic assay was performed to measure NGF plasma levels in patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis and in healthy matched controls. A competitive radioimmunoassay was used to detect eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and total specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) serum levels. Histologic evaluation was performed in tarsal and bulbar conjunctival biopsies.

RESULTS

Plasma levels of NGF were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis (mean = 8224.47 +/- 7802.53 pg/ml; median = 121 pg/ml) than in controls (mean = 51.68 +/- 5.94 pg/ml; median 42.5 pg/ml). Conjunctival tissue showed a significant increase of mast cells, eosinophils, and lymphocytes in vernal keratoconjunctivitis. A significant correlation was observed between plasma levels of NGF and the number of mast cells in the tarsal conjunctiva (Cc = 0.81; P < 0.005) and bulbar conjunctiva (Cc = 0.77; P < 0.01) of patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis. No correlation was found between NGF plasma levels and total IgE serum levels in patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis; NGF plasma levels were inversely related to the number of circulating eosinophils (Cc = -0.61; P < 0.05) and to the increased serum levels of ECP (Cc = -0.71; P < 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

These data represent the first reported evidence of increased NGF plasma levels in an allergic human disease and suggest a possible relationship between this neurotrophic polypeptide and inflammatory cells in vernal keratoconjunctivitis.

摘要

目的

评估春季角结膜炎患者血浆中神经生长因子（NGF）的浓度，并将其与该疾病的组织病理学和免疫病理学相关联。

方法

采用免疫酶测定法测量春季角结膜炎患者及健康对照者血浆中NGF的水平。使用竞争性放射免疫测定法检测嗜酸性粒细胞阳离子蛋白（ECP）和总特异性免疫球蛋白E（IgE）的血清水平。对睑结膜和球结膜活检组织进行组织学评估。

结果

春季角结膜炎患者血浆中NGF水平（平均值 = 8224.47 ± 7802.53 pg/ml；中位数 = 121 pg/ml）显著高于对照组（平均值 = 51.68 ± 5.94 pg/ml；中位数 = 42.5 pg/ml）（P < 0.001）。春季角结膜炎患者的结膜组织中肥大细胞、嗜酸性粒细胞和淋巴细胞显著增多。在春季角结膜炎患者的睑结膜（Cc = 0.81；P < 0.005）和球结膜（Cc = 0.77；P < 0.01）中，观察到血浆NGF水平与肥大细胞数量之间存在显著相关性。春季角结膜炎患者血浆NGF水平与总IgE血清水平之间未发现相关性；血浆NGF水平与循环嗜酸性粒细胞数量呈负相关（Cc = -0.61；P < 0.05），与血清ECP水平升高呈负相关（Cc = -0.71；P < 0.02）。