An immunohistochemical study of IgG, complement C3, collagen type III and macrophage-marker Ki-M7 in epiretinal membranes.

To observe the immunological changes in epiretinal membranes from the patients with proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR).Twelve samples of epiretinal membranes obtained during vitreous surgeries for PVR were examined by direct and indirect immunofluorescein histochemistry.The cellular membranes in 8 cases were composed of retinal pigment epithelial cells, fibroblast-like cells, macrophages and collagen. Positive stainings of IgG, C3+ collagen type III and macrophage-marker Ki-M7 (CD68) was seen in the membranes.The results indicate that humoral immune components and macrophages may play an important role in the development of epiretinal membrane formation.