{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T01:35:21Z","timestamp":1760060121630,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":31,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"15","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,1]],"date-time":"2025-08-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1754006400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Universidad Aut\u00f3noma de Aguascalientes","award":["UAA-DGIP-PIBB24-8"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UAA-DGIP-PIBB24-8"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJMS"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Several chronic inflammatory processes are currently being studied in relation to other systems to better understand the regulation mechanisms and identify potential therapeutic targets. A significant body of evidence supports the role of the nervous system in regulating various immunological processes. This study investigates the relationship between pterygia and the sympathetic nervous system, focusing on their interaction in the inflammatory response and fibrogenic process. Sixteen surgical specimens of primary pterygia and four conjunctival tissue samples were examined, and their morphology was analyzed using hematoxylin\u2013eosin and Masson\u2019s trichrome stains. The gene expression of adrenergic receptors, as well as inflammatory and fibrogenic cytokines, was also assessed. Additionally, both adrenergic receptors and tyrosine hydroxylase were found to be localized within the tissues according to immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence techniques. Increased expression of proinflammatory, fibrogenic, and adrenergic genes was observed in the pterygium compared to the healthy conjunctiva. Adrenergic receptors and tyrosine hydroxylase were localized in the basal region of the epithelium and within blood vessels, closely associated with immune cells. Neuroimmunomodulation plays a key role in the pathogenesis of pterygia by activating the sympathetic nervous system. At the intravascular level, norepinephrine promotes the migration of immune cells, thereby sustaining inflammation. Additionally, sympathetic nerve fibers located at the subepithelial level contribute to epithelial growth and the fibrosis associated with pterygia.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms26157417","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,5]],"date-time":"2025-08-05T15:56:16Z","timestamp":1754409376000},"page":"7417","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["The Characterization of the Neuroimmune Response in Primary Pterygia"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"26","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1514-8230","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Luis Fernando","family":"Barba-Gallardo","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Health Science Center, Autonomus University of Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes C.P. 20100, Mexico"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0007-4126-3375","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sof\u00eda Guadalupe","family":"Oc\u00f3n-Garcia","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Health Science Center, Autonomus University of Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes C.P. 20100, Mexico"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3180-2471","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Manuel Enrique","family":"Avila-Blanco","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Basic Science Center, Autonomus University of Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes C.P. 20100, Mexico"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Jos\u00e9 Luis","family":"Diaz-Rubio","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Board of Trustees of the Eye and Tissue Bank, Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes C.P. 20190, Mexico"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Javier","family":"Ventura-Ju\u00e1rez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Basic Science Center, Autonomus University of Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes C.P. 20100, Mexico"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Elizabeth","family":"Casillas-Casillas","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Health Science Center, Autonomus University of Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes C.P. 20100, Mexico"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1961-6919","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mart\u00edn Humberto","family":"Mu\u00f1oz-Ortega","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Basic Science Center, Autonomus University of Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes C.P. 20100, Mexico"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,1]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"817","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ajpath.2010.10.037","article-title":"Ophthalmic pterygium: A stem cell disorder with premalignant features","volume":"178","author":"Chui","year":"2011","journal-title":"Am. 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