title: Expression of dectin-1 during fungus infection in human corneal epithelial cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the expression of dendritic cell-associated C-type lectin-1 (dectin-1) in human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells infected by fungus.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 20 cases of healthy donor corneas were group A, and 20 patients (20 eyes) suffered from fungal keratitis (FK) composed group B. Real-time qPCR and immunohistochemistry were applied to detect dectin-1 expression in corneal epithelium of both groups. HCE cells were cultured with aspergillus fumigatus (AF) antigens in vitro. The expression of dectin-1 mRNA was measured by real-time qPCR at the stimulation of 0, 4, 8 and 24h separately. Dectin-1 protein was detected by immunocytochemistry at 0 and 24h separately.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dectin-1 expressed in corneal epithelium of normal persons and FK patients. Vitro cellular experiment showed that the expression of dectin-1 mRNA in HCE cells began to increase after stimulation of AF antigens at 4h, and dectin-1 protein expression increased after stimulation at 24h.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dectin-1 expressed in corneal epithelium of normal persons. AF antigens stimulation can elevate the expression of dectin-1 in HCE cells in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, the Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, Shandong Province, China.
authors.forename: Cui
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, the Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, Shandong Province, China.
authors.forename: Gui-Qiu
authors.initials: GQ
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, the Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, Shandong Province, China.
authors.forename: Cheng-Ye
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Che
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, the Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, Shandong Province, China.
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, the Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, Shandong Province, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, the Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, Shandong Province, China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, the Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, Shandong Province, China.
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, the Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, Shandong Province, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, the Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, Shandong Province, China.
authors.forename: Sheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Qiu
keywords: corneal epithelial cells; dectin-1; fungal keratitis; human