角膜基质细胞研究进展

角膜基质细胞,存在于角膜基质层中,在正常情况下,处于静止状态。但当角膜损伤时,不同上皮来源的因子及环境信号,将影响角膜基质细胞的应答反应,决定着角膜能否完全被修复或形成角膜瘢痕。本文就角膜基质细胞的分布、形态、受激后的应答反应情况及与角膜疾病的关系作一综述。     

正常角膜基质细胞密度和角膜厚度的研究

目的观察Confoscan 2.0共焦显微镜下正常活体角膜影像表现,测量基质细胞密度与各层厚度.方法检查34例(48眼)正常人.记录图像,并计算基质细胞密度和各层厚度.结果基质细胞密度从前到后逐渐降低,前基质比后基质细胞密度明显增高(t=-9.016,P=0.000),Bowman膜下密度最高,为(1113.2±227)个/mm2.全基质细胞密度为(806.5±57)个/mm2.角膜中央厚度为(568.3±53.8)μm,基质层为(465.5±60.2)μm,上皮层为(58.5±20.4)μm.各层厚度均与全基质细胞密度无显著相关性(P＞0.05).结论Confoscan 2.0共焦显微镜能检测角膜基质细胞密度和各层厚度.     

脱细胞猪角膜基质体外支持角膜上皮和基质细胞的生长

目的:探讨脱细胞猪角膜基质体外能否支持兔角膜细胞的生长。方法:体外培养兔角膜上皮细胞和基质细胞,并接种到制备的脱细胞猪角膜基质上,倒置相差显微镜和组织学观察细胞生长情况。结果:上皮细胞能在脱细胞猪角膜基质上贴附生长,10d时可形成2~3层的复层结构。基质细胞在脱细胞猪角膜基质上贴附生长后可向材料深层迁徙。结论:制备的脱细胞猪角膜基质体外可支持兔角膜上皮细胞和基质细胞的生长。     

Verapamil对角膜基质细胞影响的研究

目的：观察Ｖｅｒａｐａｍｉｌ（异搏定）对体外培养角膜基质细胞的影响,为其临床应用提供基础。方法：进行兔角膜基质细胞的原代和早期传代培养,并用ＭＴＴ自动比色法检测Ｖｅｒａｐａｍｉｌ对兔角膜基质细胞增殖的影响。结果：Ｖｅｒａｐａｍｉｌ浓度１０～１０００μｇ／ｍｌ作用４８ｈ和７２ｈ对角膜基质细胞增殖有明显抑制作用（Ｐ＜０．０５）。作用７２ｈ抑制率高于作用４８ｈ。结论：Ｖｅｒａｐａｍｉｌ为剂量依赖型和时间依赖型药物,能有效地抑制角膜基质细胞增殖,可望成为调节角膜伤口愈合的新药物。     

重视角膜基质细胞的作用

位于角膜基质胶原纤维板层之间的角膜基质细胞处于静息状态,可以分泌胶原以及硫酸角质素,对角膜透明性的维持发挥着重要作用。当角膜受到损伤时,角膜基质细胞可发生凋亡,向成纤维细胞以及肌成纤维细胞等修复细胞表型转化,进而促进细胞再生,诱导角膜纤维瘢痕形成。此外,大量角膜基质细胞还具有干细胞特性。目前已知角膜基质细胞是多种机体功能的积极参与者,应重视角膜基质细胞的作用。     

角膜基质细胞条件培养液促进角膜内皮细胞增生的研究

目的 探讨人胚胎角膜基质细胞(human embryonic C01Tleal stromal cells,hECSC)条件培养液对人胚胎角膜内皮细胞(human embryonic corneal endothelial cells,hECEC)体外增生的影响.方法 将生长融合达80%的原代hECEC用0.125 g·L-1胰蛋白酶/0.53 mmol·L-1EDTA传代5～10 min,第1代分3组接种于96孔板,第2天分别加入DMEM/F12(含体积分数10%FBS)、DMEM/F12(含体积分数15%FBS)和hECSC条件培养液;MTT法检测细胞增生情况;免疫荧光法对hECEC进行初步鉴定;BCA蛋白定量试剂盒检测hECSC条件培养液中蛋白含量;SPSS 11.5软件包对数据进行统计学分析.结果 MTT法检测DMEM/F12含10%FBS、DMEM/F12含15%FBS和hECSC条件培养液培养的A值分别为0.111 67±0.004 10、0.110 13±0.003 17、0.122 53±0.004 10,多组方差分析显示,条件培养液组与其他2组相比差异均有统计学意义(P均<0.05);免疫荧光结果显示hECSC呈NSE和ZO-1阳性染色;BCA蛋白定量结果显示hECSC条件培养液中总蛋白浓度为871.385 mg·L-1.结论 hECSC条件培养液对hECEC的体外生长增生有促进作用,其应用和其中活性成分分析有待进一步的研究.     

角膜基质细胞生物学活性与角膜病变

角膜基质细胞是位于角膜基质层中平行排列的胶原纤维板潜在空隙内的扁平细胞。在正常的角膜组织中,角膜基质细胞处于相当稳定的状态。然而,在角膜病变中,角膜基质细胞在发病机制、病理过程及疾病转归中扮演了重要的角色。     

角膜缘niche细胞与基质细胞维持角膜缘干细胞功能的对比研究

目的比较角膜缘niche细胞(limbal niche cells,LNCs)与角膜缘基质细胞(limbal stromal cells,LSCs)在维持角膜缘干细胞功能上的不同特性。方法将LNCs和LSCs分别从6个角膜缘组织分离,并在相同的条件下培养、传代。LNCs与LSCs经丝裂霉素C(mitomycin C,MMC)处理后分为LNCs组与LSCs组作为饲养细胞分别与角膜缘干细胞共培养,比较两组角膜缘干细胞克隆形成率(colony-forming efficiency,CFE)、上皮细胞复层化以及细胞标志物和部分基因的表达。结果 LNCs组角膜缘干细胞CFE(6.57±1.54)%高于LSCs组(1.43±0.47)%。LNCs组细胞复层上皮数(4～5层)多于LSCs组(2～3层)。角膜缘干细胞克隆与免疫荧光染色及mRNA半定量分析结果显示,LNCs组比LSCs组表达了更多干细胞标志物ΔNp63,能更有效地维持角膜缘干细胞的细胞特性。逆转录PCR分析结果显示,LNCs组与LSCs组都分泌了一些维持角膜缘干细胞生长的生长因子,但LNCs组比LSCs组高表达上皮型钙黏蛋白(E-cad...     

Effects of corneal extracts on rabbit corneal stromal cells in culture

Rabbit corneal tissues were treated sequentially with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and 4 M guanidine hydrochloride (GuHCl), dialyzed, and lyophilized. The interaction of the individual PBS and the GuHCl extracts with cultured rabbit corneal stromal cells was assessed. The PBS extract stimulated stromal cell growth. These cells had a thinner spindle-shaped appearance, a greater tendency toward multilayer formation, and a approximately 40-60% higher final density than the controls. The cells subjected to the GuHCl extract exhibited no such changes. When the PBS extract was heated to 80 degrees C, the stimulatory activity was replaced by an inhibitory activity, indicating that the PBS extract contained both the stimulatory and the inhibitory factors. Using a high performance liquid chromatograph system, such factors could be separated. The effects of corneal extracts on connective tissue synthesis were examined after labeling confluent stromal cultures with either (35S)sulfate or (3H)proline for 20 hr. The PBS and the GuHCl extracts significantly promoted the incorporation of (35S)sulfate into glycosaminoglycans. Neither extract altered the types of glycosaminoglycans synthesized or the collagen synthesis of stromal keratocytes in culture.     

Effect of latanoprost on cultured porcine corneal stromal cells

PURPOSE: Latanoprost reduces intraocular pressure mainly by enhancing uveoscleral outflow that may be involved in the decreased of extracellular matrixes such as collagens. However, the effect of latanoprost on corneal stromal cells is not well understood. In the current study, we investigated the changes of cultured porcine corneal stromal cells upon exposure to latanoprost. METHODS: Porcine corneal stromal cells were acquired from primary culture and maintained in fetal bovine serum-containing medium. Cells were estimated on 3H-thymidine, 3H-leucine, 3H-uridine, 3H-proline uptakes and migration. Dead and living cells were estimated with MTT assay. The changes of type 1 collagen and fibronectin proteins were detected by means of immunofluorescent staining and Western blot assay. Intracellular free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) mobility was studied by spectrofluorophotometer after loading with fura-2-AM. RESULTS: Latanoprost has remarkable effects inhibiting cultured corneal stromal cells on 3H-thymidine, 3H-leucine, 3H-uridine, 3H-proline uptakes and cellular migration. The inhibitory effects are in a dose-dependent manner at concentrations ranging from 10(- 5), 10(- 6), 10(- 7) to 10(- 8) M. The 50% inhibitory dosages (ID50) for latanoprost to corneal stromal cells, as measured by 3H-thymidine uptake, 3H-uridine uptake, 3H-leucine uptake, 3H-proline uptakes and cellular migration were 5.01 x 10(- 6) M, 2.81 x 10(- 6) M, 2.09 x 10(- 6) M, 3.89 x 10(- 7) M and 2.2 x 10(- 6) M, respectively. In the presence of latanoprost, the cellular MTT values were also decreased significantly. Immunofluorescent staining displayed that latanoprost changed type 1 collagen distribution in cultured corneal stromal cells. Western blot assay revealed that latanoprost caused cells to decrease in fibronectin protein. In Ca2+-containing buffer, latanoprost induced a significant rise in [Ca2+]i at 10(- 5) and 10(- 6) M. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that latanoprost may induce the morphological and biochemical changes in cultured corneal stromal cells. Long-term use of latanoprost needs to be carefully monitored for change in corneal stroma.     

Interferon production and sensitivity of rabbit corneal epithelial and stromal cells

The induction of interferon and the ability of interferon to induce the antiviral state were studied using rabbit corneal epithelial and stromal cells which were cultured for fewer than five passages. Interferon titers in the range of 7000 units/ml were induced in epithelial cell cultures and 76,000 units/ml in stromal cell cultures treated with UV-inactivated bluetongue virus. The interferon induced was stable to pH 2.0 treatment and heating to 56 degrees C for 16 hr. Infection of epithelial and stromal cell cultures with various strains of herpes simplex virus type 1 showed that all strains tested replicated to equivalent titers in the respective cell types, and that no detectable interferon was induced in stromal cells and only trace amounts in epithelial cells. Exogenously supplied rabbit interferon induced the antiviral state in cultures of both cell types restricting the replication of not only encephalomyocarditis virus but also herpes simplex virus. Sixty to ninety units of rabbit interferon reduced HSV-1 virus replication by 50%. Human interferons had less than 27% of the antiviral activity in rabbit cells than they had in a human cell line. The data indicate that exogenously supplied interferon may act to reduce the severity of herpetic keratitis by directly inducing the antiviral state in corneal epithelial and stromal cells. However, interferon endogenously produced by rabbit corneal cells in response to HSV-1 infection probably plays a minor role in the pathogenesis of ocular HSV-1 infections.     

Mechanical damage to corneal stromal cells by epithelial scraping

OBJECTIVE: Corneal epithelial scraping, a common clinical procedure, triggers a loss of underlying keratocytes. This study was conducted to examine whether the physical impact of epithelial scrape injury plays any role in the death of these cells. METHODS: Epithelial debridement was carried out on the cornea of a freshly killed mouse either by mechanical scraping with a blunt spatula, as in the clinical scraping, or lifting by repeated touching with a gelatin-coated slide. Subsequently, nuclei, nuclear envelope, microtubules, microfilaments, and plasma membranes were examined with specific probes. Some corneas were fixed with alcohol before scrape injury. Fate of keratocytes after epithelial injury was investigated with isolated eyes ex vivo and living mice in vivo. Some of the procedures were performed with human donor corneas. RESULTS: Within seconds of, or possibly simultaneous to, mechanical epithelial scraping, nuclei of underlying keratocytes became grossly deformed to assume extremely stretched morphology, accompanied by destruction of microfilaments and microtubules as well as compromised plasma membranes. These cells deteriorated gradually over several hours both ex vivo and in vivo. Nuclear deformation was observed even when the cornea was fixed with alcohol before epithelial scraping. When the epithelium was removed by gentle lifting, nuclei remained mostly intact. Similar results were obtained with human donor corneas. CONCLUSION: Mechanical epithelial scraping can cause immediate damage to underlying anterior keratocytes by a physical impact, which appears to lead to degeneration of these cells.     

Modulation of HLA antigen expression on corneal epithelial and stromal cells

Human corneal epithelial cells and stromal fibroblasts in culture were incubated with gamma interferon or with medium conditioned by phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated mononuclear cells. The corneal cells were placed into suspension, assayed for class I (HLA-A,B,C) and class II (HLA-DR) antigens by indirect immunofluorescence, and analyzed with flow cytometry. Epithelial cells treated for 5 days with conditioned medium (CND-M) did not exhibit an increase in class I or an induction of class II antigen expression, although a trend toward increased class I antigen expression was present. Epithelial cells treated for 5 days with 250-500 U/ml of gamma interferon did not demonstrate an increase in class I but did show an induction of class II antigen expression; again, however, a trend toward increased class I antigen expression was present. Stromal fibroblasts treated for 3-5 days with CND-M exhibited an increase in class I antigen expression, but stromal fibroblasts treated for 1-5 days with CND-M did not show an induction of class II antigen expression. Stromal fibroblasts incubated for 1-5 days with 250-750 U/ml of gamma interferon demonstrated both an increase in class I and an induction of class II antigen expression. These data suggest that host lymphokines may intensify the process of corneal graft rejection by augmenting class I antigen expression on allogeneic cells. Moreover, the induction of class II antigen expression by host lymphokines on cells in transplanted corneal tissue may lead to host sensitization and subsequent allograft rejection.