J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2020 Aug;61(8):861-867. 10.3341/jkos.2020.61.8.861.

Cellular Senescence in Pterygium

• Kim JH
• Lee SJ
• Lee KW
• Kim JC

• KMID: 2505304
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2020.61.8.861

Abstract

Purpose
To determine cellular senescence in pterygium by studying the expression of senescence-related markers.
Methods
Impression cytology was performed on 28 eyes of 28 patients diagnosed with pterygium or pinguecula from August2019 to January 2020. From the obtained specimen, the expression of senescence-associated beta galactosidase (SA-β-gal),p16, and interleukin (IL)-1β was examined.
Results
The average percentage of SA-β-gal positive cells was significantly higher for the pterygium group (67.63 ± 16.61%)compared to the control group (32.64 ± 8.98%) (p< 0.01). The fluorescent expression intensity of IL-1β was higher in the pterygiumgroup (22.53 ± 19.21) compared to the control group (11.38 ± 6.30) (p= 0.02), and the p16 fluorescence expression intensitywas also higher in the pterygium group, showing 42.79 ± 23.65, compared to the control group values (26.73 ± 18.34)(p = 0.01).
Conclusions
Cellular senescence specific markers, SA-β-gal, IL-1β, and p16, were expressed in pterygium, indicating a newpossible framework for the development and progression of pterygium.

Keyword

Cellular senescence; Interleukin (IL)-1β; p16; Pterygium; Senescence-associated beta galactosidase