Mast cell chymase decreases the barrier function and inhibits the migration of corneal epithelial cells.
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.
Ebihara
Nobuyuki
N
Department of Ophthalmology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. ebihara@med.jutendo.ac.jp
Funaki
Toshinari
T
Murakami
Akira
A
Takai
Shinji
S
Miyazaki
Mizuo
M
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
D005353:Fibronectins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C568985:OCLN protein, human; D062793:Occludin; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D053818:Chymases