p53 expression in pterygium in two climatic regions in Turkey

PURPOSE: To assess accumulation of p53 protein in samples of primary pterygium from people living in two different climatic regions in Turkey. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Group 1 included 101 pterygium specimens from people in Adana located in southern Turkey. Group 2 included 39 pterygium specimens from people in Ankara, located in the middle of Turkey. Climatic conditions throughout the year are sunnier and warmer in Adana than they are in Ankara. The control group (Group 3) included 30 specimens of conjunctiva that had been excised during cataract surgery from 30 patients without pterygium. The pterygial specimens and control conjunctiva were studied by immunohistochemistry using antibodies against p53 protein. Pearson's chi-square test was used to compare the p53 immunoreactivity. RESULTS: The p53 immunoreactivity in Groups 1 and 2 was greater than it was in the control group (P<0.001). There were no differences in p53 immunoreactivity between Groups 1 and 2 (P= 0.060). CONCLUSION: The p53 immunoreactivity was not correlated with ultraviolet irradiation exposure. The p53 immunoreactivity in our pterygium specimens suggests that pterygium could be a result of uncontrolled cell proliferation.