The expression of laminin-5 and ultrastructure of the interface between basal cells and underlying stroma in the keratoconus cornea.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the expression of laminin-5 and integrins, and the ultrastructure of the interface between basal cells and the basement membrane in the keratoconus cornea. These findings were compared to those in normal central cornea and limbus.


METHODS
Frozen sections of the normal cornea (center and limbus) and the keratoconus cornea were immunostained with monoclonal antibodies against three chains of laminin-5 and integrins. To investigate the ultrastructure of the interface between basal cells and the underlying stroma, we used transmission electron microscopy.


RESULTS
As compared to those in the normal central cornea, immunostaining patterns of the three chains of laminin-5 were thick and irregular in the keratoconus cornea and the normal limbus. Using electron microscopy analysis, the same characteristic structure of the interface between basal cells and the underlying stroma was recognized in the keratoconus cornea and the normal limbus. The expression of integrin alpha(6)beta(4) was restricted to the basal aspect of basal cells in the normal cornea. In the keratoconus cornea, however, integrin alpha(6)beta(4) was expressed in all aspects in basal and suprabasal cells. CONCLUSION The expression patterns of laminin-5 and the ultrastructure of the interface between basal cells and the basement membrane in the keratoconus cornea were similar to those in the normal limbus.
Ebihara
N
N
Department of Ophthalmology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Watanabe
Y
Y
Nakayasu
K
K
Kanai
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000378:metabolism*; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D039201:Integrin alpha3beta1; D039161:Integrin alpha6beta4; D016023:Integrins / Q000378:metabolism*; D007640:Keratoconus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D000097794:Kalinin
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D039201:Integrin alpha3beta1; D039161:Integrin alpha6beta4; D016023:Integrins; D000097794:Kalinin