Corneal scarring is due to aberrant activity of the transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) signaling pathway following traumatic, mechanical, infectious, or surgical injury. Altered TGFβ signaling cascade leads to downstream Smad (Suppressor of mothers against decapentaplegic) protein-mediated signaling events that regulate expression of extracellular matrix and myogenic proteins. These events lea...

PURPOSE To determine the effects of latrunculin (LAT)-A or -B on intraocular pressure (IOP), aqueous humor flow (AHF), anterior chamber (AC) protein concentration ([protein]AC), corneal endothelial permeability and morphology, and corneal thickness in living cynomolgus monkeys. METHODS Topical LAT-A or LAT-B was administered to one eye, and vehicle to the other. IOP was measured by Goldmann t...

PURPOSE To evaluate the mechanism of apical corneal epithelial barrier disruption in response to experimental ocular surface desiccation and the effects of two anti-inflammatory agents (methylprednisolone and doxycycline) on this process. METHODS Experimental dry eye (EDE) was created in C57BL/6 mice, without or with topical therapy, 1% methylprednisolone, 0.025% doxycycline, or physiologic s...

PURPOSE To determine the role of the small guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-binding protein Rho in the migration of corneal epithelial cells. METHODS The presence of the Rho target proteins Rho-associated coiled coil-containing protein kinase (ROCK)-1 and ROCK-2 in rabbit cornea was examined by immunohistochemical analysis, and that of the corresponding mRNAs in rabbit corneal epithelial cells wa...

PURPOSE Cell division of corneal limbal stem cells gives rise to transient amplifying cells that ultimately differentiate to form the multilayered corneal epithelium. The mechanisms that regulate changes in gene expression during this process are not well understood. In the present study, the involucrin gene was used as a model to study this regulation. METHODS Regulation of human involucrin ...

In the present study, the effects of the acute and chronic oral administrations (po) of curcumin in the absence and presence of morphine and naloxone was investigated on the sensation of acute corneal pain in rats. Acute corneal pain was induced by the local application of hypertonic saline (5 M NaCl) on the corneal surface, and the number of eye wipes was then counted for 30 s. Subcutaneous (s...

PURPOSE The keratin-12 (K12) protein is essential for the integrity of the corneal epithelium. This study was conducted to investigate the possible involvement of Krüppel-like factor 6 (KLF6) in the corneal regulation of K12 gene expression, in view of the presence of one KLF6 potential binding site in the human K12 promoter and the known role of KLF6 in regulating keratin gene expression. ME...

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the change in corneal protein and oxidative stress state after using photodynamic therapy (PDT) for treatment of experimental corneal neovascularization (NV) with benzoporphyrin derivative (BPD). One group was considered as control (N = 10 eyes), corneal NV was induced in 25 New Zealand male rabbits (N = 50 eyes) after placing silk sutures in the cor...

OBJECTIVE To assess the role of a carbohydrate-binding protein, galectin-7, in reepithelialization of corneal wounds. METHODS Transepithelial excimer laser ablations were performed on mouse corneas, and the wounds were allowed to partially heal in vivo for 18 to 22 hours. At the end of the healing period, expression levels of galectin-7 messenger RNA and protein were analyzed using semiquanti...