title: Membrane array analysis of tear proteins in ocular cicatricial pemphigoid.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore non-invasive, protein-based, membrane array technology as a means to evaluate the global immune and angiogenic profile of tear proteins in patients with active ocular cicatricial pemphigoid (OCP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-three proteins consisting of cytokines, angiogenic/growth factors, and immunoinflammatory modulators were measured by membrane array in tear samples of four control patients and four OCP patients during active disease and after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Signals for several distinct and consistent molecular entities were upregulated in all four active OCP tear samples relative to controls. In particular, interleukin-8 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 were elevated during active disease and decreased after systemic immunomodulatory therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Protein array analysis may provide a well-tolerated assay to monitor levels of inflammatory markers in the tears of OCP patients in response to therapy.
authors.affiliation: Francis I. Proctor Research Foundation, University of California, San Francisco Medical School, San Francisco, California, USA.
authors.forename: Matilda F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sack
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Quigley
authors.forename: Sonal
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sathe
authors.forename: Trinka
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vijmasi
authors.forename: Shimin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Holsclaw
authors.forename: Erich C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Strauss
authors.forename: Nancy A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: McNamara
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000473:pathology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010390:Pemphigoid, Benign Mucous Membrane / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D040081:Protein Array Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013666:Tears / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D005136:Eye Proteins; C042434:tear proteins