title: Conjunctival mucin mRNA expression in contact lens wear.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the influence of the water content in non-ionic hydrogel contact lenses (HCL) on the mRNA levels of human conjunctival mucin genes (MUCs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen healthy subjects with no history of contact lenses wear were selected and randomized into two equal groups. Group 1 subjects wore low water content (38%, Soflens 38) non-ionic HCLs. Group 2 wore high water content (66%, Soflens 66) non-ionic HCLs. Conjunctival impression cytology was applied to the superior bulbar conjunctiva of both eyes before, 6 months, and 1 year after HCL fitting, and 15 days after discontinuation of wearing. Total RNA was isolated, retrotranscribed, and amplified by conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and by quantitative real time PCR to study the mRNA levels of MUCs and to analyze variations during the study period. Time- and HCL-dependent variations in mRNA expression were analyzed using Student's test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From the known MUCs, transcripts from MUC1, MUC2, MUC4, MUC5AC, MUC7, MUC13, MUC15, MUC16, and MUC17 genes were detected in all subjects before HCL fitting. Except for MUC2, the expression of some MUC genes significantly increased whereas others significantly decreased at either the 6- and 12-month period. Statistically significant differences between both HCL groups (p < 0.001) were found in the MUC4, MUC13, and MUC15 mRNA expression after 1 year of wear and after the 15 days without HCL wear. However, these differences were not clearly related to the water content of the lenses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low and high water content non-ionic HCLs induced different changes in the mRNA levels of several MUCs, but the water content was not related to the changes. Recovery to basal levels of conjunctival MUC mRNA expression after wearing HCL lenses for a year takes longer than 15 days for some MUCs.
authors: Instituto Universitario de Oftalmobiología Aplicada (IOBA), Spain. corrales@bcm.edu
authors: Rosa M
authors: RM
authors: Corrales
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Galarreta
authors: Jose M
authors: JM
authors: Herreras
authors: Victoria
authors: V
authors: Saez
authors: Isabel
authors: I
authors: Arranz
authors: Maria J
authors: MJ
authors: González
authors: Agustin
authors: A
authors: Mayo
authors: Margarita
authors: M
authors: Calonge
authors: Felipe J
authors: FJ
authors: Chaves
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000378:metabolism*; D003263:Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic / Q000145:classification; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004867:Equipment Design; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; D009077:Mucins / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D015854:Up-Regulation; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D009077:Mucins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate