The human cornea has a high incidence of acquired chromosome abnormalities.
Structurally and functionally, the human cornea is a highly specialized tissue. The corneal stromal collagen matrix is uniquely transparent and yet maintains a mechanically tough and chemically impermeable barrier between the eye and environment. We report for the first time that stromal keratocytes of the human cornea show cytogenetic abnormalities with a frequency that is unprecedented among normal tissues. The abnormalities are acquired, clonal and nonclonal, primarily aneuploid in nature, and present in normal as well as diseased corneas.
Pettenati
M J
MJ
Department of Pediatrics, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA.
Sweatt
A J
AJ
Lantz
P
P
Stanton
C A
CA
Reynolds
J
J
Rao
P N
PN
Davis
R M
RM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000782:Aneuploidy; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000235:genetics; D003315:Cornea / Q000002:abnormalities*; D003317:Corneal Dystrophies, Hereditary / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005642:Fuchs' Endothelial Dystrophy / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007621:Karyotyping; D007640:Keratoconus / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged