Finally, a direct correlation between TGFβ and androgen receptor expression was also detected. Increased local conjunctival androgen receptors was detected in patients with adult variants compared to classic childhood VKC and healthy subjects. Molecular analysis showed a relative increase in tissue remodeling/fibrogenic transcripts (TGFβ isoforms and αSMA) associated to a significant increase of selective epigenetic targets (DNMT3, Nrf2 and keap1) in adult VKC phenotype. Significantly higher levels of TGFβ3 (3.44 ± 1.66 p < 0.05) were detected in adult VKC compared to childhood VKC, associated with an increasing trend of TGFβ1 (1.58 ± 0.25) and TGFβ2 (1.65 ± 0.20) isoforms levels. Immunoreactivity for αSMA and expression of TGFβ were higher in adult VKC group. Clinical assessment showed increased conjunctival scarring in adult VKC compared to classic VKC. Conjunctival imprints were processed for molecular, biochemical and immunofluorescent analysis for tissue remodeling (TGFβ1,2,3 and αSMA) and epigenetic (DNMT3a, Keap1 Nrf2) markers as well as androgen receptors were investigated and compared between groups. Visual acuity and ocular surface clinical examination focusing on chronic inflammatory sequelae and impression cytology were performed in all enrolled subjects. Male patients diagnosed with active VKC were enrolled in an open pilot study into two groups according disease onset: childhood classic VKC and adult VKC.

Our aim is to describe local tissue remodeling in a cohort of adult VKC patients.

Lfs skin yapma program