title: Effect of mechanical strain on human limbal epithelial cells in vitro.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of the mechanical cyclic strain on the extracellular matrix (ECM) production by cultivated human limbal epithelial cells (HLECs) in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  HLECs were repetitively stretched and relaxed by 20% of their original length. Morphology of HLECs was observed, and concentrations of fibronectin and laminin V were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The strained HLECs were elongated and aligned perpendicular to the direction of force. Fibronectin and laminin V were highly expressed in the strain group compared with the control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cyclic strain induces the synthesis of fibronectin and laminin V in cultivated HLECs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Joo Youn
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Kyoung Ah
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Mee Kum
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Won Ryang
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Wee
authors.forename: Jin Hak
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D048430:Cell Shape; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism*; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D016850:Limbus Corneae / Q000166:cytology*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D000097794:Kalinin
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D005353:Fibronectins; D000097794:Kalinin