title: Gelam honey potentiates ex vivo corneal keratocytes proliferation with desirable phenotype expression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Gelam honey on corneal keratocytes proliferative capacity and phenotypic characterization via MTT assay, gene expression and immunocytochemistry.
  
  
  METHODS
  Corneal keratocytes from New Zealand white rabbits were cultured in basal medium (BM) and serum enriched medium (BMS). Serial dilutions of Gelam honey (GH) were added to both media and cells were cultured until passage 1. MTT assay was performed on corneal keratocytes in both media to ascertain the optimal dose of GH that produced maximum proliferation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Gelam honey at the concentration of 0.0015% in both media showed the highest proliferative capacity with no morphological changes compared to their respective controls. The gene expression of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), a marker for quiescent keratocytes and vimentin, a marker for fibroblast, were higher in the GH enriched groups. The alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression, marker for myofibroblast, was lower in GH treated groups compared to the controls. Immunocytochemistry results were in accordance to the gene expression analyses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gelam honey at a concentration of 0.0015% promotes ex vivo corneal keratocytes proliferation while retaining desirable phenotype expression. The results serve as a basis for the development of Gelam honey as a potential natural product in promoting corneal wound healing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC), Jalan Yaacob Latif, Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras, 56000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. aliayusof@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Alia Md
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Yusof
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC), Jalan Yaacob Latif, Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras, 56000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. norzanafi9506@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Norzana
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Abd Ghafar
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC), Jalan Yaacob Latif, Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras, 56000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. tatykamarudin@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Taty Anna
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Kamarudin
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC), Jalan Yaacob Latif, Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras, 56000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. ckienhui@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Chua Kien
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC), Jalan Yaacob Latif, Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras, 56000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. rahmatyasmin@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Yasmin Anum Mohd
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Yusof
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000444:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D056705:Apitherapy; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003315:Cornea / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D065306:Corneal Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D060527:Corneal Keratocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D005347:Fibroblasts; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006722:Honey; D010641:Phenotype; D011817:Rabbits; D014746:Vimentin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D014746:Vimentin; D000444:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase