Detection of complement regulatory proteins on soft contact lenses.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the regulators of complement activation, decay-accelerating factor (DAF) and CD59, which have been identified on the cornea and conjunctiva and in soluble forms in tears and lacrimal secretions, are transferred to soft contact lenses worn by normal subjects.


METHODS
Following overnight wear of group 4 extended-wear hydrophilic contact lenses by five normal subjects, we examined the lenses immunohistochemically for decay-accelerating factor (DAF) and CD59, two regulators which interfere with the complement cascade at the C3 and C9 steps, respectively.


RESULTS
Both proteins were detected on all worn lenses but not on controls.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings raise the question of whether these proteins, as do other contact lens-bound proteins, have deleterious effects, or to the contrary, if they maintain their natural activity, might they have protective functions for contact lens wearers.
Bardenstein
D S
DS
Department of Ophthalmology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA. dsb8@po.cwru.edu
Sauer
S
S
Szczotka
L
L
Medof
M E
ME
D018958:CD55 Antigens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology; D018957:CD59 Antigens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D003263:Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D013499:Surface Properties
D018958:CD55 Antigens; D018957:CD59 Antigens; D003165:Complement System Proteins