Role of macrophage infiltration in the orbital fat of patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy
Journal
Clinical Endocrinology
Journal Volume
69
Journal Issue
2
Pages
332-337
Date Issued
2008
Author(s)
Abstract
Objective: Infiltration of the retro-ocular space by inflammatory cells, accumulation of glycosaminoglycans, and the overabundance of orbital adipose tissue are characteristic findings in Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO). The cause of macrophage infiltration in the orbital adipose tissue of patients with GO remains to be elucidated. Design: Immunohistochemistry of orbital adipose tissues with anti-CD68 was used for determining macrophage infiltration pattern and cell counts. Quantitative real-time PCR was used for analysing mRNA expression. Correlation of macrophage infiltration with the duration of GO and mRNA expression were also determined. Patients: Fifteen subjects with GO who underwent orbital decompression were recruited. Six patients without thyroid history who underwent elective orbital surgery were enrolled as controls. Measurements: Histological distribution of macrophages, macrophage cell counts, CD68 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) mRNA levels, and duration of GO. Results: We demonstrated that macrophage infiltration in orbital fat from patients with GO was higher than controls (P = 0.005). The infiltration of macrophages was located primarily around blood vessels and between mature adipocytes. Macrophage infiltration did not attenuate in GO of long duration. We also found that the expression of MCP-1 was higher in GO orbital fat than that in the orbital fat of controls (P = 0.047) and the infiltration of macrophages in adipose tissue from patients with GO was positively correlated with expression of MCP-1 mRNA (r = 0.546, P = 0.035). Conclusion: Macrophage infiltration may play an important role in the pathogenesis of GO via over-expression of MCP-1. ? 2008 The Authors.
SDGs
Other Subjects
CD68 antigen; messenger RNA; monocyte chemotactic protein 1; adipose tissue; adult; article; blood vessel; cell count; cell infiltration; cellular distribution; clinical article; correlation analysis; decompression surgery; disease duration; endocrine ophthalmopathy; female; human; human tissue; immunohistochemistry; macrophage; male; orbit; pathogenesis; priority journal; protein expression; real time polymerase chain reaction; statistical significance; thyroid gland; Adipose Tissue; Adult; Antigens, CD; Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; Cell Count; Cell Movement; Chemokine CCL2; Female; Graves Ophthalmopathy; Humans; Macrophages; Male; Middle Aged; Orbit; Up-Regulation; Young Adult
Type
journal article