The purpose of the present studies was to use CyTOF and RNA-Seq technologies to identify cells and genes involved in lacrimal gland repair that could be targeted to treat diseases of lacrimal gland dysfunction. Lacrimal glands of female BALB/c mice were experimentally injured by intra-glandular injection of interleukin 1 alpha (IL-1α). The lacrimal glands were harvested at various time points f...

Lacrimal sac tumors are rare with a clinical presentation that typically includes obstruction of the lacrimal drainage system and epiphora as the most frequent symptom. Cribriform adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is the most common malignant epithelial tumor of the lacrimal gland and minor salivary glands; however, its occurrence in the lacrimal drainage apparatus is extremely rare. Given the rar...

PURPOSE Indicators of aging such as disruption of telomeric function due to shortening may be more frequent in dysfunctional lacrimal gland. The aims of this study were to 1) determine the viability of quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization of telomeres (telo-FISH) for the assessment of telomere length in lacrimal gland in Sjögren and non- Sjögren syndrome patients; and 2) investigate ...

BACKGROUND Decrease in lacrimal gland secretory function is related to age-induced dry eye disease. Lactoferrin, the main glycoprotein component of tears, has multiple functions, including anti-inflammatory effects and the promotion of cell growth. We investigated how oral administration of lactoferrin affects age-related lacrimal dysfunction. METHODS AND FINDINGS Twelve-month-old male C57BL/...

PURPOSE To characterize the effects of P2X(7) purinergic receptors on lacrimal gland function. METHODS P2X(7) purinergic receptors were identified by RT-PCR, Western blot analysis, and immunofluorescence techniques. Rat lacrimal gland acini were isolated by collagenase digestion. Acini were incubated with the fluorescent indicator molecule fura 2, and [Ca(2+)](i) was measured by a fluorescenc...

PURPOSE Cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A) is an enzyme of paramount importance to drug metabolism. The expression and activity of CYP3A, an enzyme responsible for active androgen clearance, was investigated in the rabbit lacrimal gland. METHODS Analysis of CYP3A expression and activity was performed on lacrimal gland tissues obtained from naïve untreated and treated New Zealand White rabbits. For 5 ...

To date, there has been no attempt to determine which of the orbital glands contribute the sialic acid, which has been found in tears and tear mucoids. In the present study, sialic acid was found in the fluid collected directly from the lacrimal gland excretory duct, uncontaminated by the secretions of the other orbital glands (Nictitans, Harderian, conjunctival) as well as in the fluid secrete...

Hemangiopericytoma (HPC) is a rare tumor originating from the mesenchyme. We will describe the clinical presentations, radiological and operative findings, and pathological features of a patient with lacrimal gland HPC. The patient was a 26-year-old female who presented with swelling of the left upper eye lid progressing over the past 12 months. On ophthalmological examination, no visual impair...

Previous observations in a rat model of a non-Sjögren's syndrome (non-SS) type of dry eye seen in users of visual display terminals (VDT) indicated that secretory vesicle (SV) accumulation in the lacrimal gland epithelia contributes to the condition. Here, to examine this possibility in humans, we compared the lacrimal gland histology and percent SV area in the cytoplasm of acinar epithelial ce...

PURPOSE To report a rare case of lacrimal gland carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma (Ca ex PA) with chronic B-cell lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) infiltration in a patient without a previous diagnosis of B-CLL. PATIENT AND METHODS We report a 66-year-old woman who presented with recent worsening of a long-standing right eye proptosis. Sequential orbital computed tomography imaging was performed ov...