title: CD44 and RHAMM hyaluronan receptors in human ocular surface inflammation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  CD44 and RHAMM hyaluronan (HA) receptors have been studied in several systemic diseases such as osteoarthritis and cancer. However, not too much is known about their role in ocular surface disorders. The purpose of this research was to determine if CD44 and RHAMM are implicated in human ocular surface inflammation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Upper tarsal conjunctival epithelial samples from patients with active ocular surface inflammation (n = 17) and healthy controls (n = 14) were recovered by brush cytology. Patients were evaluated by an ophthalmologist and classified in different groups according to the etiology (immune atopic diseases or immune non-atopic diseases) and inflammation intensity (mild/moderate or severe). CD44, RHAMM, and p53 mRNAs were measured using real-time PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CD44, RHAMM, and p53 mRNAs were detected in all samples. In immune atopic diseases, higher levels of CD44 and RHAMM mRNAs were present, reaching a 300 % increase for RHAMM in severe inflammation (p < 0.001). In contrast, in immune non-atopic diseases, the HA receptors were downregulated. CD44 tended to decrease up to 30 % in severe patients (p = 0.06), and RHAMM decreased 40 % in severe inflammation (p = 0.021).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RHAMM may be implicated in severe ocular surface inflammation affecting the upper tarsal conjunctiva.
authors.affiliation: Ocular Surface Group, IOBA (Institute for Applied Ophthalmobiology), University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: García-Posadas
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Contreras-Ruiz
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Arranz-Valsero
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: López-García
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Calonge
authors.forename: Yolanda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Diebold
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000235:genetics*; D007637:Keratoconjunctivitis / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C497483:CD44 protein, human; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; C098946:hyaluronan-mediated motility receptor