Evaluation of Accessory Lacrimal Gland in Muller's Muscle Conjunctival Resection Specimens for Precursor Cell Markers and Biological Markers of Dry Eye Disease. Curr Eye Res 2017 Apr;42(4):491-497
Date
09/11/2016Pubmed ID
27612554Pubmed Central ID
PMC5551074DOI
10.1080/02713683.2016.1214966Scopus ID
2-s2.0-84986230210 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 16 CitationsAbstract
PURPOSE: The accessory lacrimal glands (ALGs) are an understudied component of the tear functional unit, even though they are important in the development of dry eye syndrome (DES). To advance our understanding of aging changes, regenerative potential, and histologic correlates to human characteristics, we investigated human ALG tissue from surgical samples to determine the presence or absence of progenitor cell markers and lacrimal epithelial markers and to correlate marker expression to relevant patient characteristics.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: ALG tissues obtained from Muller's muscle conjunctival resection (MMCR) specimens were created using tissue microarrays (TMAs). Immunofluorescence staining of MMCR sections was performed using primary antibodies specific to cell protein markers. Cell marker localization in TMAs was then assessed by two blinded observers using a standardized scoring system. Patient characteristics including age, race, and status of ocular surface health were then compared against expression of stem cell markers.
RESULTS: Human ALG expressed a number of epithelial markers, and in particular, histatin-1 was well correlated with the expression of epithelial markers and was present in most acini. In addition, we noted the presence of precursor cell markers nestin, ABCG2, and CD90 in ALG tissue. There was a decrease in precursor cell marker expression with increasing age. Finally, we noted that a negative association was present between histatin-1 expression and DES.
CONCLUSIONS: Thus, we report for the first time that human ALG tissues contain precursor marker-positive cells and that this marker expression may decrease with increasing age. Moreover, histatin-1 expression may be decreased in DES. Future studies will be performed to use these cell markers to isolate and culture lacrimal epithelial cells from heterogeneous tissues, determine the relevance of histatin-1 expression to DES, and isolate candidate precursor cells from ALG tissue.
Author List
Ali M, Shah D, Pasha Z, Jassim SH, Jassim Jaboori A, Setabutr P, Aakalu VKAuthor
Vinay Kumar Aakalu MPH, MD Chair, Professor in the Ophthalmology department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
BiomarkersBlepharoptosis
Conjunctiva
Dry Eye Syndromes
Eye Proteins
Female
Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
Histatins
Humans
Lacrimal Apparatus
Male
Microscopy, Confocal
Middle Aged
Oculomotor Muscles
Protein Array Analysis
Specimen Handling
Stem Cells
