Corneal epithelial basement membrane: Structure, function and regeneration

Purpose To investigate the corneal epithelial thickness topography with optical coherence tomography (OCT) and its relationship with vision quality in epithelial basement membrane dystrophy (EBMD). Methods 45 eyes of EBMD patients, 26 eyes of dry eye (DED) patients and 22 eyes of normal subjects were enrolled. All participants were subjected to 9-mm corneal epithelial mapping with OCT and vision quality was assessed with the optical quality analysis system using the objective scatter index (OSI). Central, superior, inferior, minimum, maximum, and standard deviation of epithelium thickness (Irregularity), were analysed and correlations with the OSI were calculated. Results The mean (±SD) central, inferior and maximum epithelial thicknesses of the EBMD patients (respectively, 56.4 (±8.1) μm, 58.9 (±6.4) μm, and 67.1 (±8.3) μm) were thicker compared to DED patients (P<0.05) and normal subjects (P<0.05). We found greater irregularity of epithelial thickness in EBMD (5.1±2.5 μm) compared to DED patients (2.6±1.0 μm) (P = 4.4.10−6) and normal subjects (2.1±0.7 μm) (P = 7.6.10−7). The mean OSI was worse in EBMD patients than in DED patients (P = 0.01) and compared to normal subjects (P = 0.02). The OSI correlated with the epithelial thickness irregularity (Spearman coefficient = 0.54; P = 2.65.10−5). Conclusions The OCT pachymetry map demonstrated that EBMD patients had thicker corneal epithelium in the central and inferior region. These changes were correlated with objective measurements of vision quality. This OCT characterisation of the EMBD provides a better understanding of the epithelial behaviour in this dystrophy and its role in vision quality.

Download Full-text

Epithelial basement membrane of human decellularized cornea as a suitable substrate for differentiation of embryonic stem cells into corneal epithelial-like cells

Materials Science and Engineering C ◽

10.1016/j.msec.2020.111215 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 116 ◽

pp. 111215 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Thaís Maria da Mata Martins ◽

Pricila da Silva Cunha ◽

Michele Angela Rodrigues ◽

Juliana Lott de Carvalho ◽

Joyce Esposito de Souza ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Embryonic Stem Cells ◽

Basement Membrane ◽

Embryonic Stem ◽

Corneal Epithelial ◽

Epithelial Basement Membrane ◽

Suitable Substrate ◽

Epithelial Basement

Download Full-text

Human Corneal Epithelial Basement Membrane and Integrin Alterations in Diabetes and Diabetic Retinopathy1

Journal of Histochemistry & Cytochemistry ◽

10.1177/002215549804600907 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 46 (9) ◽

pp. 1033-1041 ◽

Cited By ~ 69

Author(s):

Alexander V. Ljubimov ◽

Zhi-shen Huang ◽

Gang H. Huang ◽

Robert E. Burgeson ◽

Jeffrey H. Miner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Wound Healing ◽

Basement Membrane ◽

Normal Subjects ◽

Diabetic Patients ◽

Integrin Receptors ◽

Corneal Epithelial ◽

Epithelial Basement Membrane ◽

Laminin Binding ◽

Epithelial Basement ◽

Laminin 1

Corneas of diabetic patients have abnormal healing and epithelial adhesion, which may be due to alterations of the corneal extracellular matrix (ECM) and basement membrane (BM). To identify such alterations, various ECM and BM components and integrin receptors were studied by immunofluorescence on sections of normal and diabetic human corneas. Age-matched corneas from 15 normal subjects, 10 diabetics without diabetic retinopathy (DR), and 12 diabetics with DR were used. In DR corneas, the composition of the central epithelial BM was markedly altered, compared to normal or non-DR diabetic corneas. In most cases the staining for entactin/nidogen and for chains of laminin-1 (α1β1γ1) and laminin-10 (α5β1γ1) was very weak, discontinuous, or absent over large areas. Other BM components displayed less frequent changes. The staining for α3β1 (VLA-3) laminin binding integrin was also weak and discontinuous in DR corneal epithelium. Components of stromal ECM remained unchanged even in DR corneas. Therefore, distinct changes were identified in the composition of the epithelial BM in DR corneas. They may be due to increased degradation or decreased synthesis of BM components and related integrins. These alterations may directly contribute to the epithelial adhesion and wound healing abnormalities found in diabetic corneas.

Download Full-text