title: Development of ex vivo organ culture models to mimic human corneal scarring.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop ex vivo organ culture models of human corneal scarring suitable for pharmacological testing and the study of the molecular mechanisms leading to corneal haze after laser surgery or wounding.
  
  
  METHODS
  Corneas from human donors were cultured ex vivo for 30 days, either at the air-liquid interface (AL) or immersed (IM) in the culture medium. Histological features and immunofluorescence for fibronectin, tenascin C, thrombospondin-1, and α-smooth muscle actin were graded from 0 to 3 for control corneas and for corneas wounded with an excimer laser. The effects of adding 10 ng/ml transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) to the culture medium and of prior complete removal of the epithelium and limbus, thus preventing reepithelialization, were also analyzed on wounded corneas. Collagen III expression was detected with real-time PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Wounding alone was sufficient to induce keratocyte activation and stromal disorganization, but it was only in the presence of added TGF-β1 that intense staining for fibronectin and tenascin C was found in the AL and IM models (as well as thrombospondin-1 in the AL model) and that α-smooth muscle actin became detectable. The scar-like appearance of the corneas was exacerbated when TGF-β1 was added and reepithelialization was prevented, resulting in the majority of corneas becoming opaque and marked upregulation of collagen III.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  THE MAIN FEATURES OF CORNEAL SCARRING WERE REPRODUCED IN THESE TWO COMPLEMENTARY MODELS: the AL model preserved differentiation of the epithelium and permits the topical application of active molecules, while the IM model ensures better perfusion by soluble compounds.
authors.affiliation: Banque de Tissus et Cellules, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Janin-Manificat
authors.forename: Marie-Rose
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Rovère
authors.forename: Stéphane D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Galiacy
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Malecaze
authors.forename: David J S
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hulmes
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moali
authors.forename: Odile
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Damour
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D024061:Collagen Type III / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003315:Cornea / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D065306:Corneal Injuries; D060527:Corneal Keratocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003318:Corneal Opacity / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D003470:Culture Media; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D054018:Lasers, Excimer / Q000009:adverse effects; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D062326:Re-Epithelialization / Q000187:drug effects; D013499:Surface Properties; D019063:Tenascin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019700:Thrombospondin 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: C541116:ACTA2 protein, human; D000199:Actins; D015415:Biomarkers; D024061:Collagen Type III; D003470:Culture Media; D005353:Fibronectins; D019063:Tenascin; D019700:Thrombospondin 1; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta