title: Differential expression of epithelial basement membrane components nidogens and perlecan in corneal stromal cells in vitro.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to examine the expression of corneal epithelial basement membrane (EBM) components in different corneal stromal cell types. In vitro model systems were used to explore the expression of EBM components nidogen-1, nidogen-2, and perlecan that are the primary components in the lamina lucida and the lamina densa that defectively regenerate in corneas with stromal opacity after in -9.0 D photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary rabbit corneal stromal cells were cultured using varying serum concentrations and exogenous growth factors, including fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, to optimize the growth of each cell type of interest. The expression of the keratocyte-specific marker keratocan and the myofibroblast-specific marker α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were analyzed with real-time PCR, western blot, and immunocytochemical staining to evaluate the specificity of the cell types and select optimal conditions (high keratocan and low α-SMA for keratocytes; low keratocan and high α-SMA for myofibroblasts; low keratocan and low α-SMA for corneal fibroblasts). The expression of the EBM components nidogen-1, nidogen-2, and perlecan was evaluated in each corneal cell type using real-time PCR, immunostaining, and western blotting. In agreement with previous studies, serum-free DMEM was found to be optimal for keratocytes, DMEM with 10% serum and 40 ng/ml FGF-2 yielded the best marker profile for corneal fibroblasts, and DMEM with 1% serum and 2 ng/ml TGF-β1 was found to be optimal for myofibroblasts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nidogen-1 and nidogen-2 mRNAs were highly expressed in keratocytes, whereas perlecan was highly expressed in myofibroblasts. In keratocytes, nidogen-2 and perlecan proteins were expressed predominantly in intracellular compartments, whereas in myofibroblasts expression of both EBM components was observed diffusely throughout the cell. Although the perlecan mRNA levels were high in the myofibroblasts, the qualitative protein expression was different from that of the keratocytes. Corneal fibroblasts produced a low amount of each EBM component.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have demonstrated qualitative and quantitative differences in the expression of nidogen-1, nidogen-2, and perlecan by keratocytes compared to myofibroblasts that may contribute to defective regeneration of the lamina lucida and the lamina densa of the EBM associated with late stromal haze after high-correction PRK.
authors.affiliation: Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio.
authors.forename: Abirami
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santhanam
authors.affiliation: Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio; University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Andre A M
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Torricelli
authors.affiliation: Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio.
authors.forename: Jiahui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio; University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gustavo K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Marino
authors.affiliation: Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio.
authors.forename: Steven E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D060527:Corneal Keratocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019812:Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D058628:Myofibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits; D012038:Regeneration / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D019812:Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C029967:nidogen; C071927:perlecan