title: Expression of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-4 in normal human corneal cells and experimental corneal neovascularization.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the expression of TIMP-4 in cultured corneal cells and in corneal neovascularization.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human limbo-corneal epithelial cells, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells were cultured in serum-free, PMA- or basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-treated condition. Neovascularization in rat cornea was induced by suturing. The expression of TIMP-4 was examined by immunohistochemistry, Western blot and RT-PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TIMP-4 was constitutively expressed in cultured human corneal cells. The expression was only mildly enhanced after mitogen treatment. TIMP-4 immunoreactivity was predominantly expressed in normal rat corneal epithelium, and also in ingrowing blood vessels following suturing, which persisted up to day 28. Increased staining in corneal epithelium and blood vessels were also noted in vascularized human corneas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TIMP-4 is expressed in the cornea, which may play a role in modulating extracellular matrix remodeling associated with corneal wound healing and angiogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan. davidhkma@yahoo.com
authors.forename: David Hui-Kang
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Fen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Jeng-Yuan
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Ching-Hsi
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Hsiao
authors.forename: Hui-Chuan
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Wan-Soo
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yan-Xia
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Jan-Kan
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ray Jui-Fang
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Tsai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016510:Corneal Neovascularization / Q000378:metabolism*; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000378:metabolism*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000201:enzymology; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000097792:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-4
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases; D000097792:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-4