Activation of nuclear factor-kappa B in the conjunctiva with the epithelial scraping of the mouse cornea and human epidemic keratoconjunctivitis.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the expression of p65, one of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B), in the conjunctival epithelium of the C57Bl6 mouse and a patient with epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC).


METHODS
Normal and epithelial scraped cornea obtained 6 hours after the injury were processed for paraffin section. Samples of a normal and an EKC conjunctival epithelium were obtained using impression cytology. Both samples were analysed by immunocytochemistry using anti-p65 antibody.


RESULTS
Immunocytochemistry with the anti-NF-kappa B p65 antibody revealed that p65 was localised in the cytoplasm of the conjunctival epithelium in the C57Bl6 mouse without the treatment. Six hours after the scraping of the cornea, p65 protein was expressed in the nuclei of the conjunctival epithelium. p65 was localised in the cytoplasm of the conjunctival epithelium in the human normal eye. p65 protein was expressed in the nuclei of the conjunctival epithelial cells in the EKC patient.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that NF-kappa B was activated in the conjunctiva in the epithelial scraping of the mouse cornea and in human EKC.
Kase
S
S
Department of Ophthalmology, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, N17 W5, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-8638 Japan. kyoshida@med.hokudai.ac.jp
Aoki
K
K
Harada
T
T
Harada
C
C
Ohgami
K
K
Shiratori
K
K
Nishi
S
S
Ohno
S
S
Yoshida
K
K
D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000737:chemistry; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000293:injuries; D003315:Cornea / Q000737:chemistry*; D065306:Corneal Injuries; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000737:chemistry; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000737:chemistry; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007637:Keratoconjunctivitis / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000032:analysis*; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA
D016328:NF-kappa B; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA