Laminins and 11 integrin in the human eye importance in development and disease

.............................................................................................4 SVENSK SAMMANFATTNING................................................................5 ABBREVIATIONS ...................................................................................6 ORIGINAL PAPERS ................................................................................8 INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................9 Extracellular matrix...............................................................................................9 Basement membranes......................................................................................... 10 Basement membranes of the eye.........................................................................11 Laminins............................................................................................................... 12 Integrins ............................................................................................................... 14 Embryology of the eye ......................................................................................... 16 The cornea............................................................................................................ 18 The cornea in diseases requiring transplantation.............................................20 Corneal wound healing........................................................................................ 21 AIMS OF THE STUDY ...........................................................................23 MATERIAL AND METHODS.................................................................24 Eye samples..........................................................................................................24 Animals.................................................................................................................24 Tissue Processing.................................................................................................25 Antibodies and Labeling .....................................................................................25 Immunohistochemistry.......................................................................................26 Cell culture ...........................................................................................................26 Corneal thickness measurements.......................................................................26 RESULTS .............................................................................................. 27 Fetal development ...............................................................................................27 Adult human corneas ..........................................................................................29 Normal corneas...........................................................................................29 Keratoconus ................................................................................................29 Fuchs’ endothelial dystrophy and BKP.....................................................30 Scarred cornea – post DLKP......................................................................30 Corneal wound healing........................................................................................ 31 DISCUSSION.........................................................................................32 Fetal development ...............................................................................................32 Adult human corneas ..........................................................................................35 Corneal wound healing........................................................................................37 Future investigations...........................................................................................38 CONCLUSIONS .....................................................................................40 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...................................................................... 41 REFERENCES .......................................................................................43 PAPERS I-IV