title: Immunohistochemical characterization of epithelial cells implanted in the flap-stroma interface of the cornea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the expression of extracellular matrix collagens and their relationship to corneal opacities after implantation of epithelial cells in the flap-stroma corneal interface.
  
  
  METHODS
  A corneal flap was made on rabbit eyes, and epithelial cells, mechanically scraped from tissue surrounding the flap, were implanted beneath the flap. The corneas were harvested 1, 3, 7, and 30 days following surgery. Histological and immunohistochemical examinations were performed. The expression and localization of types I, III, and IV collagens and gelatinase A were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Slit-lamp examination showed corneal opacity in the area where the epithelial cells were implanted. Histological study revealed clusters of epithelial cells between the flap and stromal interface. One week and 1 month after the implantation, intense immunoreactivity for collagen type IV was detected at the perimeters of the intrastromal epithelial islands, but not in the interface outside the implanted epithelial cells. Weak positive staining for gelatinase A was detected in the implanted epithelial cells and surrounding keratocytes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The heavy deposition of collagen type IV surrounding the implanted epithelial cells indicated that it might be an essential component of the interface haze observed in patients following laser in situ Keratomileusis. Gelatinase A may also play a role in the regulation of stromal remodeling after epithelial ingrowth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Lizhong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Takuji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Toshida
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Murakami
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000378:metabolism; D024061:Collagen Type III / Q000378:metabolism; D024141:Collagen Type IV / Q000378:metabolism; D003318:Corneal Opacity / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation*; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits; D013524:Surgical Flaps
chemical_list: D024042:Collagen Type I; D024061:Collagen Type III; D024141:Collagen Type IV; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2