PURPOSE Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is one of the most powerful bacterial virulence factors in terms of proinflammatory properties and is likely to contribute to corneal bacterial keratitis. Better understanding of the spatial expression of the LPS receptor components at the tear-corneal interface might facilitate enhanced functions of the LPS receptor complex in ocular defense against Gram-negati...

PURPOSE To examine the expression pattern of the stress-related genes c-fos and c-jun, which encode the 2 major components of activator protein (AP)-1, and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 in rat corneal epithelium treated with topical antiglaucoma medications and benzalkonium chloride (BAK) preservative. METHODS Eighty-eight male Wistar rats were used. We instilled antiglaucoma eye drops (0.5% Timopto...

PURPOSE To determine whether topical ocular delivery of <100 nm nanoparticles can be enhanced by coating their exterior with peptide or protein ligands for cell surface receptors. METHODS A novel ex vivo bovine eye model was validated for its integrity up to 60 min. Using this model, the uptake of 20 nm polystyrene nanoparticles (administered as a single 50 mul drop) before and after surface ...

PURPOSE To investigate the protective effects of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) gene transfer in a rat model of corneal graft rejection. METHODS We constructed a recombinant plasmid (pcDNA3.1-hIL-1ra) with high IL-1ra expression in eukaryotic cells. Using a Wistar-SD rat model of corneal graft rejection, we examined the effects of IL-1ra in vivo after cationic polymer jetPEI-media...

The regenerated epithelium derived from limbal epithelium was histologically and biochemically compared with epithelia regenerated from corneal and bulbar conjunctival epithelia. The histologic results indicated that regenerated epithelium of limbal origin increased in thickness with time after healing and showed no goblet cell appearance on the cornea. This suggests that regenerated epithelium...

Corneal blindness is the fourth leading cause of blindness in the world. Current treatment is allogenic corneal transplantation, which is limited by shortage of donors and immunological rejection. Skin-derived precursors (SKPs) are postnatal stem cells, which are self-renewing, multipotent precursors that can be isolated and expanded from the dermis. Facial skin may therefore be an accessible a...

PURPOSE Stratified squamous epithelial cells assemble a specialized protective barrier structure on their periphery, termed the cornified envelope. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the presence and distribution of cornified envelope precursors in human corneal epithelium, their expression in human corneal epithelial cell cultures, and the effect of ultraviolet radiation (UVB) and trans...

The cornea serves as a barrier to protect the eye against external insults including microbial pathogens and antigens. Bacterial infection of the cornea often results in corneal melting and scarring that can lead to severe visual impairment. Not only live bacteria but also their components such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Gram-negative bacteria contribute to the development of inflammation a...

PURPOSE Lumican is a major proteoglycan of vertebrate cornea. This study characterizes mouse lumican, its molecular form, cDNA sequence, and chromosomal localization. METHODS Lumican sequence was determined from cDNA clones selected from a mouse corneal cDNA expression library using a bovine lumican cDNA probe. Tissue expression and size of lumican mRNA were determined using Northern hybridiz...

PURPOSE To evaluate the TGFBI gene and the encoded transforming growth factor beta-induced protein (TGFBIp) in a 47-year-old African-American patient with an unusual atypical asymmetric lattice corneal dystrophy (LCD). METHODS The eyes of the proband and his brother were examined by slit-lamp biomicroscopy and their clinical records were reviewed. All 17 exons of TGFBI were evaluated in genom...