title: Protective effects of trehalose on the corneal epithelial cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Aim of the present work was to evaluate the effects of the trehalose on the corneal epithelium undergoing alcohol delamination.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve patients undergoing laser subepithelial keratomileusis (LASEK) were consecutively included in the study. The right eyes were pretreated with 3% trehalose eye drops, whilst left eyes were used as control. Epithelial specimens were processed for cells vitality assessment, apoptosis, and light and transmission electron microscopy; a morphometric analysis was performed in both groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both trehalose-untreated eyes (TUE) and trehalose-treated eyes (TTE), the percentage of vital cells was similar and no apoptotic cells were observed. In TUE, the corneal epithelium showed superficial cells with reduced microfolds, wing cells with vesicles and dilated intercellular spaces, and dark basal cells with vesicles and wide clefts. In TTE, superficial and wing cells were better preserved, and basal cells were generally clear with intracytoplasmatic vesicles. The morphometric analysis showed statistically significant differences between the two groups: the TTE epithelial height was higher, the basal cells showed larger area and clearer cytoplasm. The distribution of desmosomes and hemidesmosomes was significantly different between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Trehalose administration better preserved morphological and morphometric features of alcohol-treated corneal epithelium, when compared to controls.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medical-Surgical Sciences, Regional Referral Center for the Ocular Surface Diseases, University of Messina, Via C. Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aragona
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Environmental Health, University of Messina, Via C. Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Colosi
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medical-Surgical Sciences, Regional Referral Center for the Ocular Surface Diseases, University of Messina, Via C. Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5773-8469
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rania
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medical-Surgical Sciences, Regional Referral Center for the Ocular Surface Diseases, University of Messina, Via C. Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Colosi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Section of Histology and Embryology, University of Messina, Via C. Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pisani
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Section of Histology and Embryology, University of Messina, Via C. Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Puzzolo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Section of Histology and Embryology, University of Messina, Via C. Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Micali
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D014199:Trehalose / Q000494:pharmacology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014199:Trehalose