AIM:To observe the expression of tumor necrosis factor- alpha(TNF-α)and its receptor I(P55)in different pterygium and discuss the role of TNF-α and receptor I(P55)in pterygium.

METHODS: Immunohistochemistical staining method(PV)was adopted to detect the expression of TNF-α and receptor I in pterygium(72 eyes)and para-pterygium conjunctival tissue(30 eyes). The relationship between the expression and clinical-pathological parameters was also analyzed.

RESULTS: The positive rates of TNF-α were 65.3%(47/72), 26.7%(8/30)in pterygium and para-pterygium conjunctival tissue. The positive expression of TNF-α had statistic difference between the two groups(χ²=12.706, P<0.01). The positive rates of TNF-α receptor I were 56.9%(41/72), 16.7%(5/30)in pterygium and para-pterygium conjunctival tissue. The positive expression of P55 had statistic difference between the two groups(χ²=13.875, P<0.01). The positive rate of TNF-α in recurrent pterygium group was higher than primary pterygium group(χ²=6.547, P=0.011). There had no statistically significance of the expression intensity between the two groups(F=1.288, P=0.393); the positive rate in advanced pterygium group was higher than quiescent pterygium group(χ²=4.082, P=0.043). The expression intensity had no statistically significance between the two groups(F=0.489, P=0.708). The positive rate of P55 in recurrent pterygium group was higher than primary pterygium group(χ²=9.907, P=0.002). There had no statistically significance of the two group's expression intensity(F=1.175, P=0.424); the positive rate in advanced pterygium group was higher than in quiescent pterygium group(χ²=11.140, P=0.001). The expression intensity had no statistically significance between the two groups(F=0.665, P=0.621).

CONCLUSION:The expression of TNF-α and P55 are changing according to the development of clinical staging and onset. The expression of TNF-α and P55 may be related to clinical classification, staging and patient's working conditions of pterygium. There has no significant difference expression intensity of TNF-α and P55 in clinical staging and onset of pterygium.