Human excimer laser keratectomy. Immunohistochemical analysis of healing.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze human corneal responses to excimer laser by immunohistochemistry.


METHODS
Corneas cultured for 3 weeks after laser ablation or taken from patients 5 to 16 months after laser treatment were exposed to antibodies to beta, integrin; types VII, IV, and III collagen; fibronectin; type I procollagen; and prolyl 4-hydroxylase. Antibody distributions were compared with those of normal corneas and unablated regions of treated corneas.


RESULTS
After 3 weeks, distribution of beta, integrin, and types VII and IV collagen was patchy; heavy deposits of fibronectin appeared subepithelially. Keratocytes stained for prolyl-4-hydroxylase and type I procollagen. With increasing postoperative time, fibronectin diminished, and beta 4 integrin and type VII collagen became linear, stromal staining of types III and IV collagen increased and their diminished.


CONCLUSIONS
Components of basement membrane, attachment complexes, and stromal matrix are synthesized shortly after laser treatment. Changes in these elements persist for 16 months in the human cornea.
National Vision Research Institute, San Diego, Calif, USA.
J A
JA
Anderson
P S
PS
Binder
M E
ME
Rock
M P
MP
Vrabec
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000737:chemistry; D003315:Cornea / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D016023:Integrins / Q000032:analysis; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy; D011393:Procollagen-Proline Dioxygenase / Q000032:analysis; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D016023:Integrins; D011393:Procollagen-Proline Dioxygenase