Pterygium is a possible aging-related condition that is associated with collagen degeneration. This degeneration expressed fibro-vascular reaction creeping over the cornea. The pathogenesis of Pterygium is not clear. However, Sunrays and exposure to dust are risk factors for this condition. A widespread meta-analysis study on more than 400 000 candidates worldwide demonstrated increasing rates of Pterygium cases with age predominantly in males exposed to sun rays. The condition was aggravated in rural areas with the highest prevalence in China. Sunglasses and smoking were considered protective factors against Pterygium pathology [1, 2]. However, it is not explained how smoking improves the condition despite that sun rays and aging share the burden of oxidative stress with smoking.

Scientists proposed a multifactorial theory to explain Pterygium with possible genetic, immunological, and viral infection causes of the development of such pathology. On the other hand, it is important to notice that Pterygium has a degenerative component and a proliferation component at the same time [3]. The condition is benign in most cases, with minimal symptoms like foreign body sensation and burning.

Some studies considered Pterygium as a neoplastic process; they linked this tumor proliferation with p53 dysfunction and altered stem cell activity [4]. Progressive Pterygium growth passes to the cornea and impairs vision. At this point, surgical treatment is the standard gold method. Unfortunately, there is a recurrent rate of pathology that requires removal. Transposition of the conjunctival flap, conjunctival auto-transplantation, and amniotic membrane transplantation were common techniques to reduce the recurrence. Adjuvant drug therapy has been applied to reduce the risk of recurrence, like vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors [5]. Conservative treatment is partially successful in non-fibrotic conditions [6].

Topoisomerase 1 is an important enzyme in DNA synthesis related to tumor progression [7]. Topoisomerase 1s are nuclear enzymes that release DNA rigidity allowing DNA replication. Topoisomerase 1 is a marker of cell proliferation and helps in the diagnosis of cancers. It is a target of anticancer therapy. This enzyme expression may explain the pathogenesis and the prognosis of proliferative disorders [8].

The current work will hopefully use immunohisto- chemistry to examine the two markers glutathione and topoisomerase 1 to explain the interaction between both degenerative and proliferative mechanisms occurring in the same disorder. Hopefully, it is suggested that immunohis- tochemistry can help in the prediction of the recurrence and possibly the mechanisms involved in this disorder.

The current research work is a single-center retrospective study conducted at the Department of Ophthalmology, and the Department of Pathology, Mansoura University, Egypt, according to the tenets of the declaration of Helsinki. The article was accepted by the IRB of the faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, code number R.20.01.728

The inclusion criteria were as follows: age 18 years or more, unilateral nasal primary or recurrent Pterygium, prominent growth, reported vascularization, uncontrollable irritation symptoms, and growth invasion of the corneal surface by about 2-4 mm. While, the exclusion criteria were: pseudo- Pterygium, ocular surface disorders (as severe dry eye), eyelids infection or infection of the ocular surface, patients reported active extensive intraocular inflammatory reaction, patients with ocular hypertension or on glaucoma under medical control, patients with advanced, recurrent Pterygium that extends between the pupil and limbus at the time of the presentation, and combined other eye surgical history within the previous last six months (Tables 1-3).

About 74% of the total cases were primary Pterygium; more than 51% of them were males. Also, males dominated the secondary Pterygium of about 67%. Males were dominating the number of Pterygium cases in either primary or secondary Pterygium. The age of patients in the current study ranged from 18 to 55 years.

• Results of Hematoxylin and Eosin staining:

Fig. (1) showed The H and E of both primary and secondary Pterygium. The slides demonstrated epithelial hyperplasia and atypia in the primary forms. The reaction has been more intense in the secondary Pterygium demonstrating ulcerations and more dysplastic activity of the epithelium.

The epithelial changes included epithelial atypia in 40% of cases, mostly reactive atypia mild to a moderate degree equally distributed in primary and secondary Pterygium. Severe dysplasia (2cases) was observed in secondary Pterygium. Epithelial hyperplasia was observed in all cases of primary and secondary Pterygium. Goblet cell hyperplasia was observed in 30% of primary Pterygium cases and 50% of secondary cases. Prominent epithelial pigmentation was present in 30% of cases. Mild epithelial lymphocytic exocytosis was observed in 65% of cases; the moderate form was observed in 35% of cases, mostly secondary (Fig. 1).

Stromal inflammation had a perivascular pattern in 70% of cases. 30% of cases showed no stromal inflammation. Stromal solar elastosis was evident in all cases. Evident stromal vascularity was observed in 50% of cases with higher incidence with secondary cases (Fig. 2).

It was recorded that 85% of the cases were positively stained with reduced glutathione. The remaining 4 cases (15%) of negative cases were primary and 3 of them were males. Most (75%) of primary cases of Pterygium were positive for reduced glutathione. More than 60% of them have a high grade of staining; indicating the role of oxidative stress leading to degeneration in the pathogenesis of the disease.

All secondary causes of Pterygium were positive for reduced glutathione; all of them expressed high-grade staining for reduced glutathione representing more release of oxidative stress factors with secondary cases than primary ones.

All cases of Pterygium were negative for topoisomerase 1except two cases (7.4%) were secondary cases with moderate grading of positivity. However, all cases showed internal control stem cells positivity scattered focal between the basal cell layers of covering epithelium.

Fig. (3) showed the immunostained slides for both reduced glutathione and topoisomerase 1for both primary and secondary Pterygium. Primary Pterygium slides were mildly positive for reduced glutathione and only stem cells got positive for topoisomerase 1alpha. On the other hand, secondary Pterygium expressed more glutathione stain and mild positive topoisomerase 1 stain not only for stem cells but also for the superficial prickle cells in the secondary Pterygium

Fig. (1). Epithelial changes seen in Pterygium: A) goblet cell hyperplasia, seen more with secondary Pterygium. hematoxylin and eosin (h and e) stain, x200. B) Epithelial pigmentation, h and e, x200 C) Epithelial hyperplasia with reactive epithelial atypia, h, and e, x400 D) Epithelial lymphocytic exocytosis, h, and e, x400 E) Epithelial ulceration was seen more with secondary Pterygium, h and e, x100 F) Moderately dysplastic epithelium was seen in primary Pterygium, h, and e, x100 G) sever dysplastic epithelium was seen in secondary Pterygium, h, and e, x200.

Fig. (2). Stromal changes in Pterygium: A) vascular proliferation and angiogenesis with interstitial hemorrhage seen in secondary Pterygium, h and e, x200 B) peri-appendageal lymphocytic infiltration, h and e, x200. C) Solar elastosis, h and e, x100.

Fig. (3). Immunohistochemical staining with Reduced-glutathione and Topoisomerase1: A) mild positivity (+2) for glutathione seen in primary Pterygium x40 B) strong positivity (+3) for glutathione seen in secondary Pterygium x400 C) negative for Topoisomerase seen in primary Pterygium (internal control positive for stem cells seen as focal basal positivity)x400 D) mild focal positivity at superficial prickle cell layer seen in secondary Pterygium x400.

The current study examined both primary and secondary Pterygium immunohistochemistry staining with both reduced glutathione and Topoisomerase 1. The reduced glutathione immune stain reflected the redox status and the degenerative component of the disease [7, 9]. Lymphangiogenesis has been proposed as a mechanism of Pterygium [10]. There are strong risk factors of oxidative inflammation, viral causes, and oncogenic activation in the contribution of the development of the double hybrid pathology Pterygium. Studies recommended the human papillomavirus as a candidate for being a causing virus of Pterygium [11].

The reduced glutathione immune stain showed a strong reaction in most of the cases with marked stain percentage and intensity in the secondary forms. Other studies supported the idea that oxidative stress induced by ultraviolet rays is part of the pathogenesis of Pterygium. They found a positive defensive reaction of malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activities in the conjunctival samples taken from patients suffering from Pterygium and cataract as an aging process [12, 13]. A very close work showed that a very similar glutathione immune staining score in both intensity and spread. The author attributed the positive glutathione results to the defensive antioxidant capacity against free radicals generated by the sun ray’s exposure [14].

Ultraviolet rays have dual degenerative/ proliferative effects that may promote Pterygium. These rays stimulate the VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor), promoting lymphangiogenesis. Experimental inhibition of the VEGF prevents the lymphatic reaction [15]. Corneal herpes viral infection may be a contributing factor to the development of lymphangiogenesis as well as ultraviolet factors [16].

The current study noticed that Topoisomerase 1stained the stem cell of the tissue samples reflecting a possible aberrant stem activity. This focal activity may be a marker for progenitor activity to explain the proliferative component of the Pterygium. Topoisomerase 1 may be a clue to the mechanism of recurrence or possibly a prognostic factor. Experimental work on human leukemia cell lines showed increased topoisomerase 1in many cancers like colorectal, ovarian, cervical, prostatic, and even lymphomas [17]. Another important data is that topoisomerase 1over expression was correlated with the bad prognosis of colorectal metastasis [18]. The possible common pathogenesis in both Pterygium and colorectal carcinoma can be explained by K-ras activation that sun rays can mutate. The possible common interaction between both K-ras and topoisomerase alpha may be target pathways for both diseases and even may predict their outcomes [19].

Those slides showed positive staining for Topoisomerases and, at the same time, reduced glutathione are mainly respecting the pattern of secondary behavior. The current study proposes that a panel of immunohistochemistry staining of reduced glutathione, Topoisomerase, and possibly others like p53 or the vascular endothelial growth factor in combination could be a good method to predict the prognosis of Pterygium. Limitations of this study include the small number of cases and the limited number of immune panels like p53 and possibly others like aging markers.

Pterygium is a wide world multifactorial disorder. The degenerative component is strongly related to oxidative stress conditions detected by immune stain with glutathione, while the proliferative component can be explained by stem cell activity demonstrated by focal topoisomerase 1 activity. A panel of immunohistochemistry may be a good tool to predict the recurrence rate.