春季カタルの結膜表面におけるEGF受容体発現

Expression of epidermal growth factor receptor in the palpebral conjunctiva with vernal keratoconjunctivitis

要約　目的：春季カタル患者の球結膜でのepidermal growth factor receptor（EGFR）mRNA発現の検討。

症例と方法：春季カタルがある18例18眼を対象とした。男性16例と女性2例で，年齢は16.6±8.7歳である。Schirmer検査を行ったSchirmer試験紙の先端5 mmを切除して検体とし，real-time RT-PCR法により，EGFR mRNA発現量をΔΔCT法で検討した。春季カタルがない7例7眼を対照とした。

結果：春季カタルでのEGFR 発現量は0.06〜1.8，中央値0.4であり，対照群での0.7〜1.6，中央値1.1と比較して有意に低値であった（p＜0.01）。

結論：春季カタルでは，球結膜でのEGFR mRNA発現が低下する。

Abstract　Purpose: To report the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor（EGFR）in the palpebral conjunctiva with vernal keratoconjunctivitis.

Cases and Method: This study was made on 18 eyes of 18 patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis. The series comprised 16 males and 2 females. The age averaged 16.6±8.7 years. Expression of EGFR mRNA was evaluated by real-time RT-PCR method using the tip of Schirmer test strip. Another series of 7 eyes of 7 healthy persons served as control.

Results: Levels of EGFR mRNA expression ranged from 0.06 to 1.8, with 0.4 as the median in cases with vernal keratoconjunctivitis. Values in the control ranged from 0.7 to 1.6, with 1.1 as the median. The difference was significant（p＜0.01）.

Conclusion: Levels of EGFR mRNA expression was lower in cases with vernal keratoconjunctivitis than in controls.