title: [The keratocyte or fibroblast of the cornea: morphological and biochemical characteristics in normal stroma and a few cases of corneal dystrophies].
abstract: Keratocytes are differentiated mesenchymal fibroblast which are specialized in the production and maintenance of the transparent corneal stroma. These elongated cells with large nuclei and scant cytoplasm produce the collages, proteoglycans, and glycoproteins which make up the stroma, as well as the enzymes involved in post-translation modifications and catabolism of these macromolecules. The characteristic morphological features and specific metabolic activity of keratocytes undergo significant changes during tissue repair and in several corneal diseases. Alterations in keratocyte biosynthetic activity, regardless of their cause, ultimately lead to fibrillar alterations responsible for a loss of corneal transparency.
authors.affiliation: INSERM U-86, Laboratoire de Biochimie de la Cornée, Paris, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Menasche
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Savoldelli
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pouliquen
mesh_terms: D003094:Collagen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003317:Corneal Dystrophies, Hereditary / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000502:physiology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006001:Glycoconjugates / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D006001:Glycoconjugates; D011509:Proteoglycans; D003094:Collagen
vernacular_title: Le kératocyte ou fibroblaste de la cornée: carctéristiques morphologiques et biochimiques dans le stroma normal et dans quelques cas de dystrophies cornéennes.