title: Chemically injured keratocytes induce cytokine release by human peripheral mononuclear cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish an in vitro model to study the role of keratocytes in corneal chemical burns and to investigate the interaction between chemically injured keratocytes and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Human keratocytes, epithelial cells, and PBMCs were cultured. The PBMC stimulation assay was then performed using cultured human keratocytes, epithelial cells, and NaOH-treated keratocytes. Matrix metalloprotease-9 (MMP-9), transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1), and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) secretion profiles of activated PBMCs stimulated by NaOH-treated keratocytes were determined by ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Human keratocytes stimulated PBMC proliferation (p=0.016), and keratocytes treated with various concentrations of NaOH further stimulated PBMC proliferation compared to control cells in a dose-dependent manner (p=0.028 and 0.009). MMP-9 and MIF levels were higher than in the negative controls, while TGF-β1 levels did not differ from those of the negative controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that PBMCs are stimulated by chemically injured keratocytes, and produce inflammatory cytokines in response. This may be a major mechanism underlying the process causing corneal chemical burn injuries. This model can be used as an in vitro model for further studies on corneal chemical burns.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Sun
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Kayoung
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: Tae Young
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Joon Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Hyon
authors.forename: Won Ryang
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Wee
authors.forename: Young Joo
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Shin
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D060527:Corneal Keratocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide / Q000633:toxicity*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9