PURPOSE To determine the effects of experimental dryness on production of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their physiological inhibitors (TIMPs) by the corneal epithelium. METHODS Experimental dry eye (EDE) was created in two strains of mice: BALB/c and C57BL/6. Real-time PCR was performed with MMP and TIMP probes, and the results were analyzed by the comparative C(T) method, selecting t...

Absorption of UV rays by DNA generates the formation of mutagenic cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPD) and pyrimidine (6-4) pyrimidone photoproducts (6-4PP). These damages are the major cause of skin cancer because in turn, they can lead to signature UV mutations. The eye is exposed to UV light, but the cornea is orders of magnitude less prone to UV-induced cancer. In an attempt to shed light on...

PURPOSE Protein kinase C (PKC) α plays a major role in the parasympathetic neural stimulation of lacrimal gland (LG) secretion. It also has been reported to have antiapoptotic properties and to promote cell survival. Therefore, the hypothesis for the present study was that PKCα knockout ((-/-)) mice have impaired ocular surface-lacrimal gland signaling, rendering them susceptible to desiccating...

PURPOSE To study the growth regulation of bovine corneal endothelium, the effects of insulin and insulin-like growth factor-I on the expression of the c-fos proto-oncogene as well as on DNA synthesis were analyzed. Bovine corneal endothelial cells were also analyzed for the presence of insulin and insulin-like growth factor-I receptors. METHODS Indirect immunofluorescence was used to assess t...

Acute corneal ulceration in malnourished children is the commonest cause of childhood blindness in Northern Nigeria and usually develops after measles. Other severe diseases in malnourished children rarely precipitate corneal ulceration. A survey in a school for blind children showed that 69% of the children were blind from corneal disease, and a survey of children with corneal scars showed tha...

Plus/minus screening of the rabbit corneal cDNA library was performed using corneal and iris RNA as probes. Thirteen clones were isolated: three ferritin H-chains, a NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase B22 subunit, an alpha 1 type VIII collagen, a 25 KDa FKBP-506 binding protein (FKBP25), a thrombospondin 2, and six unknown clones. Although proteins translocated from these isolated mRNA are not corn...

It has been shown in animal models that matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitors (TIMPs) are responsible for remodelling and neovascularization of the diseased cornea. Under normal conditions, MMPs are expressed at relatively low levels, which may increase in case of different corneal diseases. In this paper we have investigated gene expression of matrix metalloproteinase 2, matrix...

Corneal scarring limits vision for millions of individuals worldwide. Corneal transplantation (keratoplasty) is the standard of care for corneal opacity; however, it bears the risk of graft rejection and infection and is not universally available. Stem cell therapy holds promise as an alternative to keratoplasty. Stem cells from human corneal stroma (CSSC) induce regeneration of transparent cor...

PURPOSE To evaluate the transfer of heterologous genes carrying a Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) reporter cassette to primary corneal epithelial cells ex vivo. METHODS Freshly enucleated rabbit corneoscleral tissue was used to obtain corneal epithelial cell suspension via enzymatic digestion. Cells were plated at a density of 5×10³ cells/cm² and allowed to grow for 5 days (to 70-80% confluen...