gms | German Medical Science

102. Jahrestagung der DOG

Deutsche Ophthalmologische Gesellschaft e. V.

23. bis 26.09.2004, Berlin

Morphological and immunocytological characterization of snake-like chromatin epithelial cells from the conjunctiva of keratoconjunctivitis sicca patients

Meeting Abstract

  • corresponding author K. Jirsová - Laboratory and Ocular Tissue Bank, Department of Ophthalmology, Universal Teaching Hospital and Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
  • K. Juklová - Laboratory and Ocular Tissue Bank, Department of Ophthalmology, Universal Teaching Hospital and Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
  • V. Veselá - Laboratory and Ocular Tissue Bank, Department of Ophthalmology, Universal Teaching Hospital and Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
  • M. Filipec - Laboratory and Ocular Tissue Bank, Department of Ophthalmology, Universal Teaching Hospital and Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic

Evidenzbasierte Medizin - Anspruch und Wirklichkeit. 102. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Ophthalmologischen Gesellschaft. Berlin, 23.-26.09.2004. Düsseldorf, Köln: German Medical Science; 2004. Doc04dogSA.08.05

The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.egms.de/en/meetings/dog2004/04dog352.shtml

Published: September 22, 2004

© 2004 Jirsová et al.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.en). You are free: to Share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work, provided the original author and source are credited.


Outline

Text

Objective

To characterize snake-like chromatin (SCL) cells and to elucidate the mechanisms by which SLC arises in human conjunctival epithelium of keratoconjunctivitis sicca patients by using morphological and immunocytochemistry methods.

Methods

Schirmer test, break-up-time (BUT), rose bengal staining and conjunctival impression cytology from control subjects (group 1), keratoconjunctivitis sicca patients with less than 10 SLC (group 2) and with more than 1000 SLC cells/specimen (group 3) were performed. The number of micronuclei (MNi) in SLC-negative and SLC-positive epithelial cells was counted, and a detailed morphological characterization of SLC structure was performed. Proliferation markers (Ki-67 and PCNA), nucleolar proteins (fibrillarin and B23) and components of nuclear lamina (lamin A/C and B) were detected using indirect immunofluorescence.

Results

The results of the Schirmer test, BUT and rose bengal staining were significantly worse in both KCS groups compared to the controls, with the worse values seen in the SLC-positive group. The average number of micronuclei was 0.5±0.83/1000 epithelial cells in the upper bulbar conjunctiva of control subjects and 1.00±0.92 MNi/1000 cells in the lower bulbar conjunctiva. Similar values were obtained in SLC-negative cells in group 2. The average number of micronuclei in SLC-positive epithelial cells was 14.75±8.09 MNi/1000 cells and 4.0±3.83 MNi/1000 cells in SLC-negative cells in keratoconjunctivitis sicca patients of group 3. The most characteristic difference between SLC-positive and SLC-negative epithelial cells was the complete absence of lamin A/C in SLC-positive cells. The attenuation of signal staining in SLC-positive cells compared to SLC-negative cells revealed lamin B. The changes in the location of the signal (nonrandom redistribution into spots closely adjectant to SLC structure in middle of this structure) revealed the nucleolar protein fibrillarin. Different percentages of B23, Ki-67 and PCNA positive cells were noted in SLC-negative cells from controls and KCS, but never in SLC-positive cells.

Conclusions

The results reflect the fact that the occurrence of SLC cells depends on KCS severity. The high level of micronucleation in SLC cells, the presence of SLC-positive cells together with their dumb-bell shape and binucleated forms, absence of mitotic markers, leads to the conclusion that SLC phenomenon is a pathological form of amitosis.