title: Evolving concepts on the pathogenic mechanisms of aniridia related keratopathy.
abstract: Heterozygosity for PAX6 deficiency (PAX6+/-) results in aniridia. Corneal changes in aniridia-related keratopathy (ARK) include corneal vascular pannus formation, conjunctival invasion of the corneal surface, corneal epithelial erosions and epithelial abnormalities, which eventually result in corneal opacity and contribute to visual loss. Corneal changes in aniridia have been attributed to congenital deficiency of corneal limbal stem cells. The aim of this paper is to review the potential mechanisms that may underlie the pathogenesis of aniridia related keratopathy. Current evidence, based on clinical observations and an animal model of aniridia suggest that the proliferative potential of the corneal limbal stem cells may not primarily be impaired. The corneal changes in aniridia may be related to an abnormality within the limbal stem cell niche. The mechanisms underlying progressive corneal pathology in aniridia appear multi-factorial and include: (1) abnormal corneal healing responses secondary to anomalous extracellular matrix metabolism; (2) abnormal corneal epithelial differentiation leading to fragility of epithelial cells; (3) reduction in cell adhesion molecules in the PAX6 heterozygous state, rendering the cells susceptible to natural shearing forces; and (4) conjunctival and corneal changes leading to the presence of cells derived from conjunctiva on the corneal surface.
authors.affiliation: Tennent Institute of Ophthalmology, Gartnavel General Hospital, 1053 Great Western Road, Glasgow G12 0YN, UK. k.ramaesh@talk21.com
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ramaesh
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ramaesh
authors.forename: G N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Dutton
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dhillon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015783:Aniridia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D003315:Cornea / Q000254:growth & development; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005136:Eye Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D006801:Humans; D016850:Limbus Corneae / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008954:Models, Biological; D000071841:PAX6 Transcription Factor; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D005136:Eye Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D000071841:PAX6 Transcription Factor; C000605730:PAX6 protein, human; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; C000605732:Pax6 protein, mouse; D012097:Repressor Proteins