Connective tissue growth factor in tear film of the horse: detection, identification and origin.
BACKGROUND
Healing of corneal ulcers in horses is often associated with profound corneal stromal fibrosis and scar formation resulting in visual impairment. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is a fibrogenic cytokine involved in wound healing and scarring. The purpose of this study was to determine whether CTGF was present in the tear fluid of normal horse eyes and the eyes of horses with corneal ulcers in order to evaluate the role of CTGF in corneal wound healing and corneal scar formation.


METHODS
Tear fluid samples were collected from 65 eyes of 44 horses; 32 samples from normal eyes, 21 samples from eyes with corneal ulceration, and 12 samples from the unaffected contralateral eyes of horses with ulcers. CTGF levels in the tears were determined by enzyme immunoassay using goat IgG against human CTGF. Antigenetic similarity of human and horse CTGF was established in a bio-equivalence assay. The identity of horse CTGF was confirmed by western blot. Lacrimal and nictitating membrane glands were investigated by immunohistochemistry in the attempt to clarify the origin of tear fluid CTGF.


RESULTS
CTGF was detected in tear film of 23 normal unaffected eyes (72%) and 8 normal contralateral eyes (67%), with the mean CTGF levels (+/- SEM) being 51.5+/-19.2 and 13.4+/-3.9 ng/ml respectively. CTGF was found in 8 eyes with corneal ulcers (38%) with the mean CTGF concentration of 26.3+/-14.8 ng/ml. Western blot identified the protein detected as CTGF. The identification of CTGF in lacrimal glands suggests a major role of these glands in the presence of CTGF in tears.


CONCLUSIONS
CTGF is present in horse tear fluid and derives, at least partly, from the lacrimal gland. Equine CTGF has strong antigenic similarity with human CTGF. Corneal disease leads to a decrease of CTGF concentrations in tears. The possible role of CTGF in the healing process of ocular surface requires further investigation.
Ollivier
F J
FJ
Departments of Large and Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32601-0126, USA.
Brooks
D E
DE
Departments of Large and Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32601-0126, USA. Brooksd@mail.vetmed.ufl.edu.
Schultz
G S
GS
Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, Institute of Wound Healing, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
Blalock
T D
TD
Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, Institute of Wound Healing, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
Andrew
S E
SE
Departments of Large and Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32601-0126, USA.
Komaromy
A M
AM
Departments of Large and Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32601-0126, USA.
Cutler
T J
TJ
Departments of Large and Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32601-0126, USA.
Lassaline
M E
ME
Departments of Large and Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32601-0126, USA.
Kallberg
M E
ME
Departments of Large and Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32601-0126, USA.
Van Setten
G B
GB
St. Eriks Eyes Clinic, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000662:veterinary; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; D003320:Corneal Ulcer / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D006736:Horses; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques / Q000662:veterinary; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000378:metabolism*; D008934:Mitogens / Q000378:metabolism*; D013666:Tears / Q000378:metabolism*
C526317:CCN2 protein, human; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008934:Mitogens; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor