MMP-type endopeptidase activity in the cornea. Its evolution during organ culture storage at the Eye Bank. Effect of hyaluronan.
About 46% of total corneas obtained from donors in the French Eye Bank cannot be grafted for several reasons as loss of endothelium or other. Corneal cells express proteolytic enzymes, essentially matrix metallo-proteinase MMP-2 and MMP-9. In presence of hyaluronan and some other GAG-s their activity increases as could be shown on keratocyte cultures. Hyaluronan concentration increases during in vitro preservation and can represent a serious hazard for corneal conservation. The control of MMP-release and activation might well be one of the factors involved in graft deterioration. We could show however that only a slight fraction (< or =12%) of total, relatively high endopeptidase activity of the cornea is released in the media during storing. It appears therefore that most of the proteolytic activity determined in corneal extracts remains confined to the stroma and might not represent an important risk for preservation, at least for the endothelium.
Isnard
N
N
Laboratoire de Recherche Ophtalmologique, Hôpital Hôtel Dieu, Université Paris 5, France.
Sabatier
P
P
Robert
A M
AM
Robert
L
L
Renard
G
G
D003315:Cornea / Q000201:enzymology*; D005125:Eye Banks; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques
D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9