Cytokines Such As Tnf-¦Á Expression In The Rcs Rat Retinal Degeneration Process Its Significance

Objective To explore the roles of Tumor Necrosis Factor-a (TNF-a), Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and S-100 in the process of retinitis pigmentosa, we investigated the expression of these proteins in the photoreceptor outer segment.Methods 10 of 25-day-old Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rats were studied and 10 of age-matched Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were used as experimental control. They were housed under a 12 h light/dark cycle and were used irrespective of gender. The expression of TNF-a, ICAM-1 and S-100 by histiocytes in the photoreceptor outer segments was analyzed by Haematoxylin & Eosin (HE) staining and immnohistostaining.Results The positive cells with TNF-a expression in RCS rat retina were more than in SD rat. The positive cells with ICAM-1 and S-100 expression in RCS rat retina were less than in SD rat.Conclusion The changes of TNF-a, ICAM-1 and S-100 expression were supposed to relate the phagocytosis and digestion of outer segment disk by the retinal pigment epithelium.