Keratocytes are fast-moving cells in which adhesion dynamics are tightly coupled to the actin polymerization motor that drives migration, resulting in highly coordinated cell movement. We have found that modifying the adhesive properties of the underlying substrate has a dramatic effect on keratocyte morphology. Cells crawling at intermediate adhesion strengths resembled stereotypical keratocyt...

The goal of this study was to investigate how alterations in extracellular matrix (ECM) biophysical properties modulate corneal keratocyte phenotypes in response to specific wound healing cytokines and Rho GTPases. Rabbit corneal keratocytes were plated within standard collagen matrices (2.5 mg/mL) or compressed collagen matrices (~100 mg/mL) and cultured in serum-free media, PDGF BB, IGF, FGF2...

Retinoic acid has recently been shown to control the phenotype and extracellular matrix composition of corneal stromal cells cultured in vitro as monolayers. This study set out to investigate the effects of retinoic acid on human corneal keratocytes within a 3D environment. Human corneal keratocytes were encapsulated in collagen gels, which were subsequently compressed under load, and cultured ...

PURPOSE To identify differentially expressed genes in keratoconus (KC) corneal fibroblasts. METHODS Stromal keratocytes (having a fibroblast morphology) from KC keratoplasty specimens and eye bank donor corneas were isolated and expanded using a serum containing medium. RNA was isolated from three KC fibroblast cultures and five eye bank donor cornea fibroblast cultures. The targets from the ...

PURPOSE To assess and compare keratocyte viability and collagen structure in cornea stroma lenticules collected immediately after refractive lenticule extraction (ReLEx) and one month after cryopreservation. METHODS The fresh and cryopreserved human stroma lenticules procured after ReLEx were processed for ultrastructural analysis of keratocytes and collagen fibrils with transmission electron...

PURPOSE To report in vivo confocal microscopic (IVCM) features in corneal edema supported by histopathologic correlation. METHODS This was an observational study with evaluation of diagnostic technology. Twenty patients with clinically diagnosed corneal edema were involved, including 11 with Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy (FED). All cases, in addition to a control group of six normal eyes, were...

Corneal structure is highly organized and unified in architecture with structural and functional integration which mediates transparency and vision. Disease and injury are the second most common cause of blindness affecting over 10 million people worldwide. Ninety percent of blindness is permanent due to scarring and vascularization. Scarring caused via fibrotic cellular responses, heals the ti...

Conventional transmission electron microscopy (CTEM) was compared with high-voltage electron microscopy (HVEM) on 11 normal human corneas (age range, 30 weeks of gestation to 92 yr). Epithelial anchoring fibrils were noted between the basal epithelial cells and Bowman's layer (BL) as previously reported. Parallel pairs of fibers, 27.5 nm in diameter, were observed crossing into the anterior str...

OBJECTIVE To compare 3 techniques used for removing the recipient stroma during anterior lamellar keratoplasty (ALK): the "big-bubble" technique, manual dissection using a crescent blade and slitlamp operating microscope, and microkeratome lamellar cut. DESIGN Retrospective comparative cohort study of 69 consecutive ALKs and 69 consecutive penetrating keratoplasties (PKs). Manifest refraction...