Journal
INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE
Volume 56, Issue 12, Pages 7545-7550Publisher
ASSOC RESEARCH VISION OPHTHALMOLOGY INC
DOI: 10.1167/iovs.15-17627
Keywords
dry eye; cytokines; interferon-gamma; goblet cells; gene expression
Categories
Funding
- NEI NIH HHS [P30 EY002520, EY002520, EY020799, EY11915, P30 EY020799, R01 EY023598, R01 EY011915] Funding Source: Medline
Ask authors/readers for more resources
PURPOSE. To investigate the hypothesis that increased interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) expression is associated with conjunctival goblet cell loss in subjects with tear dysfunction. METHODS. Goblet cell density (GCD) was measured in impression cytology from the temporal bulbar conjunctiva, and gene expression was measured in cytology samples from the nasal bulbar conjunctiva obtained from 68 subjects, including normal control, meibomian gland disease (MGD), non-Sjogren syndrome (non-SSATD)-, and Sjogren syndrome (SSATD)-associated aqueous tear deficiency. Gene expression was evaluated by real-time PCR. Tear meniscus height (TMH) was measured by optical coherence tomography. Fluorescein and lissamine green dye staining evaluated corneal and conjunctival disease, respectively. Between-group mean differences and correlation coefficients were calculated. RESULTS. Compared to control, IFN-gamma expression was significantly higher in both ATD groups, and its receptor was higher in SSATD. Expression of IL-13 and its receptor was similar in all groups. Goblet cell density was lower in the SSATD group; expression of MUC5AC mucin was lower and cornified envelope precursor small proline-rich region (SPRR)-2G higher in both ATD groups. Interferon-gamma transcript number was inversely correlated with GCD (r = -0.37, P < 0.04) and TMH (r = -0.37, P = 0.02), and directly correlated with lissamine green staining (r = 0.51, P < 0.001) and SPRR-2G expression (r = 0.32, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS. Interferon-gamma expression in the conjunctiva was higher in aqueous deficiency and correlated with goblet cell loss and severity of conjunctival disease. These results support findings of animal and culture studies showing that IFN-gamma reduces conjunctival goblet cell number and mucin production.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available