The Research On Expression And Correlation Of EMT-Related Proteins Vimentin,E-Cadherin And TGF-β1 In Pterygium

Objective: To investigate whether epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)is associated with the occurrence,development,invasive growth and recurrence of pterygium.Methods: The expressions of Vimentin,TGF-beta 1 and E-Cadherin in 30 cases of primary pterygium,15 cases of recurrent pterygium and 15 cases of normal conjunctiva were detected and compared by immunohistochemistry(SP method).The expression of Vimentin,TGF-beta 1 and E-Cadherin was analyzed by SPSS 22.0.Results: 1.Compared with normal conjunctival tissue,the positive expression rates of Vimentin and TGF-beta-1 in primary and recurrent pterygium tissues increased(P=0.011)(P=0.011),while the positive expression rates of E-Cadherin decreased(P=0.003).2.Compared with primary pterygium,the positive expression rates of Vimentin and TGF-beta 1 in recurrent pterygium tissues increased(P= 0.044)(P=0.039),while the positive expression rates of E-Cadherin decreased(P=0.048).3.Compared with grade I-II pterygium,the positive expression rate of TGF-beta 1 increased(P=0.042)and E-Cadherin decreased(P=0.027)in grade III-IV pterygium.4.Spearman correlation analysis showed that Vimentin was positively correlated with the expression of TGF-beta 1(r=0.318,P=0.033),E-Cadherin was negatively correlated with the expression of Vimentin(r=-0.417,P=0.004),and E-Cadherin was negatively correlated with the expression of TGF-beta 1(r=-0.515,P=0.000).Conclusions: 1.The expression of Vimentin,TGF-beta 1 and E-Cadherin in normal conjunctiva,primary pterygium and recurrent pterygium tissues are different,suggesting that they play a certain role in the occurrence,development and recurrence of pterygium.2.There are differences in the expression of TGF-beta 1 and E-Cadherin in pterygium tissues of grade I~II and III~IV,suggesting that they are related to the invasive growth characteristics of pterygium.3.Vimentin and TGF-beta 1 play a synergistic role in the occurrence and development of pterygium.4.Vimentin and E-Cadherin are the marker proteins of EMT,while TGF-beta 1 is the main inducer of EMT.The results suggest that EMT is related to the occurrence,development,recurrence and invasive growth of pterygium.It is speculated that inhibiting the process of EMT may delay the process of pterygium and reduce its recurrence rate after operation.