Purpose: To evaluate the expression of Pax6 in pterygia epithelium.
Methods: Fifteen patients (15 eyes) with pterygium who underwent simple excision were enrolled in this study. Pax6, K10, K19 and MUC5AC immunostaining were performed in pterygia tissue and normal conjunctiva.
Results: A decline or absence of Pax6 expression and K19 keratin and MUC5AC but increased of K10 expression with epidermal differentiation was observed in pterygia epithelium, in comparison with the normal conjunctival tissue.
Conclusions: These results indicate that down-regulation of Pax6 is associated with abnormal differentiation of the epithelial cells in pterygium.