Treatment of acute ocular chemical burns.

The point mutation and polymorphism in keratoconus candidate gene TGFBI in Chinese population.

PURPOSE. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of bovine lactoferrin (BLF) on human corneal epithelial wound healing using an in vitro alkali–induced wound model and to understand its role in promoting wound healing. METHODS. Confluent human corneal limbal epithelial (HCLE) cells wounded using 0.5 L of 0.1 M sodium hydroxide were treated with BLF (0, 0.1, 1, 2.5, and 5 mg/mL) or anti– human interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor neutralizing antibody (anti–IL-6 antibody; 1, 10, and 50 g/mL) or tyrphostin AG1295 (an inhibitor of platelet-derived growth factor [PDGF] receptor kinase; 1 and 10 M), IL-6, or PDGF-BB. The conditioned medium collected for BLF treatment (0 and 5 mg/mL) was analyzed using a protein array for a number of cytokines/ growth factors involved in corneal wound healing. A preliminary animal study using mice was carried out to determine the effect of BLF on alkali wounds. RESULTS. BLF at 2.5 and 5 mg/mL promoted wound healing (P 0.01). During wound closure, BLF upregulated PDGF-BB 180-fold and IL-6 10-fold compared with control. Treatment with tyrphostin AG1295 (10 M; P 0.01) or anti–IL-6 antibody (50 g/mL; P 0.01) in the presence of BLF inhibited wound closure, whereas the addition of exogenous IL-6 and PDGF-BB promoted wound closure. Preliminary animal studies have shown that BLF (5 mg/mL) promotes alkali wound healing in vivo. CONCLUSIONS. These results suggest that BLF at 2.5 mg/mL stimulates HCLE wound healing, and this stimulation is mediated through the upregulation of PDGF or IL-6. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2009;50:1636 –1643) DOI:10.1167/iovs.081882

Bovine Lactoferrin Stimulates Human Corneal Epithelial Alkali Wound Healing In Vitro

Keratoconus is a bilateral, non-inflammatory corneal ectasia characterized by progressive conical thinning and protrusion of the cornea Its etiology has long been believed to be multifactorial, with environmental, behavioral, and genetic factors all contributing to the disease process This review focuses specifically on examining the evidence that supports a genetic basis for keratoconus

The Genetics of Keratoconus

Purpose: Keratoconus (KTCN) is a degenerative disorder of the eye that results in the conical shape and thinning of the cornea and is a leading cause for corneal transplantations. A number of studies suggest that genetic factors play a role in KTCN etiology. Some candidate gene variants have recently been shown to be associated with KTCN. The purpose of our study was to verify the role of VSX1, TGFBI, DOCK9, IPO5, and STK24 sequence variants in Polish KTCN patients.Methods: Forty-two Polish patients with sporadic KTCN and 50 control individuals were enrolled into this study. Both affected and unaffected individuals underwent detailed ophthalmic examination. The mutations screening in the candidate genes was performed by the direct sequencing method.Results: Analysis of VSX1, TGFBI, DOCK9, IPO5, and STK24 genes identified numerous sequence variants. Variants c.-264_-255delGGGGTGGGGT, c.627 + 23G > A, c.809-6_809-5insT, and c.*200G > T in the VSX1 gene, and heterozygous c.1598G > A mutation (Arg533G...

Molecular Screening of Keratoconus Susceptibility Sequence Variants in VSX1, TGFBI, DOCK9, STK24, and IPO5 Genes in Polish Patients and Novel TGFBI Variant Identification

Objective: To observe the expression of laminin and fibronectin in alkali burned corneas in rats.Methods: A total of 18 normal Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 groups (n=3 in each group). For each rat, one eye was injured by alkali burn, the other one was taken as the normal control. Then all the corneas were surgically removed and the expression of laminin and fibronectin was observed with immunohistochemistry respectively at 7 hours, 1 day, 3 days, 7 days, 14 days and 28 days after alkali burn. Results: Compared with that of the normal controls, the expression of laminin and fibronectin of the burned eyes was dramatically higher at 7 hours, reached peak at 14 days and decreased to the normal level at 28 days after alkali burn. Conclusions: In the process of wound healing after alkali burn, the expression of laminin and fibronectin increases dramatically, which suggests that laminin and fibronectin may participate in the process of corneal wound healing.

Animal study on expression of laminin and fibronectin in cornea during wound healing following alkali burn.

OBJECTIVES To observe the expression of betaig-h3 in normal cornea and keratoconus and to elucidate the role of extracellular matrix in keratoconus METHODS In situ hybridization was used to detect the expression of betaig-h3 in the cornea The cDNA library was screened with human betaig-h3 cDNA probe to locate betaig-h3 mRNA in cells RESULTS Expression of betaig-h3 was found mainly in the stroma of the normal cornea and keratoconus, but decrease depending on the degree of keratopathy In some serious cases, no expression signal was detected The strongest expression was seen at the border of the normal region and keratoconus CONCLUSIONS betaig-h3, the structural component of the extracellular matrix, can affect cell adhensiveness in the development of corneal fibrous interstitial organization During the development of keratoconus, decreasing levels of betaig-h3 cause the diminution of corneal steadiness, which is related to formation of keratoconus

Expression of βig-h3 in keratoconus and normal cornea

OBJECTIVE To observe the expression of a protein inducible by transforming growth factor-beta (betaig-h3) in normal cornea and keratoconus and discuss the effects of extracellular matrix on keratoconus METHODS In situ hybridization method was used to detect the expression of betaig-h3 in the cornea The cDNA library was screened with human betaig-h3 cDNA probe to orient betaig-h3 mRNA in cells The level of betaig-h3 was detected in normal cornea and keratoconus RESULTS betaig-h3 mainly expressed in the stroma in normal cornea and keratoconus The positive expression decreased along with the increase of severity of the keratoconus The negative expression was seen in severe lesions of keratoconus The strong positive expression was seen at the interface area between the normal and the lesion of keratoconus CONCLUSION The decreasing of the level of betaig-h3 causes the diminution of corneal steadiness that is related to the formation of keratoconus

The expression of protein betaig-h3 inducible by transforming growth factor-beta in keratoconus and normal cornea.

Objective: To observe the ocular histopathological changes aftereyeball enucleation induced by corneal trauma.Methods: Light microscopic examination was done on 117 eyeball specimens enucleated after corneal trauma (18 with corneal fissure and 99 with corneal perforating trauma).Results: Acute, subacute or chronic inflammatory changes, and fibrous membrane formation were observed in well-closed corneal wounds, whereas inflammation, atrophy and scar were observed in the focal tissues. But at the late period, secondary glaucoma, retinal detachment, endophthalmitis and eyeball atrophy resulted in blindness. Corneal fistula was observed in those with inadequate cure of wounds caused by ingrowth of corneal epithelium, embedment of iris and vitreous body, and large area of centrally located tissue deficiency of the corneal. A high incidence of endophthalmitis was noted due to the presence of corneal fistula. Severe inflammation was observed in the anterior segmental tissues with fibrous infiltration in the anterior chamber, which might result in rapid destruction of the eyeballs.Conclusions: Ocular pathology varies with the difference of the position, form, size and closing conditions of the corneal laceration after trauma.

Key words: 
Wounds and injuries; Cornea; Pathology; Eye enucleation

Chuanfu Wang

Papers

Animal study on expression of laminin and fibronectin in cornea during wound healing following alkali burn.

Expression of βig-h3 in keratoconus and normal cornea

The expression of protein betaig-h3 inducible by transforming growth factor-beta in keratoconus and normal cornea.

Ocular histopathological changes after eyeball enucleation induced by corneal trauma.