The presence of heme oxygenase and NADPH cytochrome P-450 (c) reductase, the latter an integral component of heme oxygenase and cytochrome P-450-dependent drug metabolizing enzymes, was demonstrated in human corneal epithelium. We reported for the first time that human corneal epithelium contains heme oxygenase activity as high as 20% of that reported for the human liver. Using immunological te...

PURPOSE Congenital stromal corneal dystrophy (CSCD) is characterized by stromal opacities that morphologically are seen as interlamellar layers of amorphous substance with small filaments, the nature of which has hitherto been unknown. CSCD is associated with truncating mutations in the decorin gene (DCN). To understand the molecular basis for the corneal opacities we analyzed the expression of...

PURPOSE Due to its ability to disrupt transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling, halofuginone has been successfully used to treat various fibrotic disorders. Here we investigated the antifibrotic potential of halofuginone in human corneal fibroblasts. METHODS Human corneal fibroblasts were isolated from human donor corneas for in vitro experiments. TGF-β was used to stimulate pro-fibr...

PURPOSE To examine the effects of neural cells on the stratification of and junctional protein expression by corneal epithelial cells with a coculture system. METHODS PC12 cells induced to undergo neuronal differentiation or rat trigeminal nerve cells were cultured together with simian virus 40-transformed human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells on opposite sides of a collagen vitrigel membrane....

Corneal keratan sulfate proteoglycan (KSPG) from scar tissue of experimental penetrating corneal wounds in rabbits was analyzed 2-8 weeks after injury using three previously characterized antibodies. Keratan sulfate (KS) was identified in 2 week scars and normal corneal tissue by indirect immunofluorescence using a monoclonal antibody against sulfated KS epitopes. KSPG was measured in unfractio...

PURPOSE Adenovirus type 19 (Ad19) infection of the human cornea results in a chronic, multifocal, subepithelial keratitis. Existing evidence suggests that early subepithelial corneal infiltrates are composed of polymorphonuclear neutrophils. In this study, the capacity of Ad19-infected human corneal stromal fibroblasts (HCFs) to produce neutrophil chemotactants (chemokines) was tested. METHOD...

PURPOSE The production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines as well as the surface expression of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 by corneal fibroblasts contribute to corneal inflammation. The effects of triptolide on the expression of these proteins induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in human corneal fibroblasts were examined in comparison with those of dexamethasone. METHODS...

PURPOSE Corneal allograft rejection in rats can be prevented by subconjunctival injections of liposomes containing dichloromethylene diphosphonate (clodronate-LIP), which selectively eliminate macrophages. In this study, the effect of clodronate-LIP treatment on cytokine mRNA levels in corneal allografts was examined. METHODS AO rats received corneal grafts of PVG rats. Rats were either not t...

Background: To evaluate the agreement in intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements by Ocular Response Analyzer (ORA) and Tono-Pen XL (TXL) with the Goldmann Applanation Tonometer (GAT) and to examine corneal biomechanical properties in aphakic glaucoma patients with a central corneal thickness (CCT) >600 µ. Methods: Thirty-six eyes of aphakic glaucoma patients (group 1) and 40 eyes of normal chil...

PURPOSE The detection of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) by human cells is facilitated by LPS-binding protein (LBP) and soluble (s)CD14. The effects of these proteins on chemokine release and adhesion molecule expression in cultured human corneal fibroblasts were examined. METHODS The release of chemokines into culture supernatants and the expression of the intercellular adhesion molecule ...