Abstract
P 052
Expression of stem cell markers in conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasias
Anne Pester1, Mikk Pauklin1, Henning Thomasen1, Friedrich Otterbach2, Kurt Werner Schmid2, Klaus-Peter Steuhl1, Daniel Meller1
1Zentrum für Augenheilkunde, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Essen, 2Institut für Pathologie und Neuropathologie, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Essen
Objective
Conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasias (CIN) are some of the most common ocular tumors. They often involve the limbal area, a known location of the corneal epithelial stem cells (SCs). In recent years, the cancer stem cell concept has evolved, indicating a SC origin of several tumors. Our aim was to analyze the expression of known SC markers in CINs.
Methods
Four samples of CIN III, all involving the limbus and three samples of healthy bulbar and fornical conjunctiva were analyzed. The expression of epithelial differentiation markers (K3, K15, K19), putative limbal SC markers (ABCG2, p63), and molecules expressed in pluripotent/multipotent SCs (NANOG, OCT4, SOX2, MUSASHI 1, KLF4, KIT, NESTIN, PAX6) was examined using Real-Time PCR.
Results
The analyzed conjunctival samples did not express K3 and CIN samples showed an extremely low expression of K3. Only the expression of SOX2 was in tumor samples significantly higher than in both conjunctival regions. All other analyzed markers showed a lower or similar expression in tumor samples in comparison to conjunctiva samples
Conclusions
The high expression of SOX2 suggests a functional role of SOX2 in CIN formation.
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