title: Mast cell chymase decreases the barrier function and inhibits the migration of corneal epithelial cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the in vitro effects of human mast cell chymase on corneal epithelial cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human corneal epithelial cells were incubated with human chymase at activity levels that were likely to exist in the tears of patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Incubation of chymase resulted in a decrease of barrier function of corneal epithelium. Occludin protein was cleaved by chymase. In the wound assay, incubation with chymase resulted in an inhibition of cell migration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Human chymase causes the proteolysis of occludin and fibronectin, resulting in a decrease of barrier function and inhibition of the migration of corneal epithelial cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. ebihara@med.jutendo.ac.jp
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ebihara
authors.forename: Toshinari
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Funaki
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takai
authors.forename: Mizuo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D053818:Chymases; D017097:Electric Impedance; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000378:metabolism; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000201:enzymology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D062793:Occludin; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013539:Simian virus 40 / Q000502:physiology; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D005353:Fibronectins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C568985:OCLN protein, human; D062793:Occludin; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D053818:Chymases