title: Proteins of the corneal stroma: importance in visual function.
abstract: The human cornea, consisting of five layers, is the transparent tissue that refracts and transmits light to the lens and retina, providing about two thirds of the refractive power of the eye. The stroma layer comprises nearly 90 % of the thickness of the cornea and thus plays a pivotal role in normal visual function. The bulk of this layer is constituted by proteins in the extracellular martrix secreted by the corneal epithelial, stroma, and endothelial cells. Clinical research has shown that corneal stroma diseases are common and involve conditions such as infections, injuries, and genetic defects, which cause severe visual disturbances or even blindness. To improve our understanding of the basic molecular mechanisms involved in the physiological and pathological activities of the corneal stroma, its proteins have been brought into the limelight to determine their crucial and irreplaceable roles. The data presented in a previous study have demonstrated the presence of 1679 proteins in the stroma, and this data set has subsequently been perfected by utilizing a highly sensitive isobaric peptide-labeling approach. According to their manifestations, these proteins can be classified as a gel-like organic material composed of proteoglycans, enzymes, and hemocyanin-binding proteins and a network of filaments composed of collagen, elastin, keratin, vimentin, and interconnected filaments comprising fibronectin and laminin. The aim of this review is to describe some corneal stroma proteins by highlighting their major functions and valuable applications in ophthalmologic research toward the better characterization and treatment of eye diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, The 2nd Teaching Hospital of Jilin University, 218 Ziqiang Street, Nanguan District, Changchun, 130041, Jilin, China.
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xuan
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, The 2nd Teaching Hospital of Jilin University, 218 Ziqiang Street, Nanguan District, Changchun, 130041, Jilin, China.
authors.forename: Shurong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, The 2nd Teaching Hospital of Jilin University, 218 Ziqiang Street, Nanguan District, Changchun, 130041, Jilin, China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, The 2nd Teaching Hospital of Jilin University, 218 Ziqiang Street, Nanguan District, Changchun, 130041, Jilin, China.
authors.forename: Yuxi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, The 2nd Teaching Hospital of Jilin University, 218 Ziqiang Street, Nanguan District, Changchun, 130041, Jilin, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, The 2nd Teaching Hospital of Jilin University, 218 Ziqiang Street, Nanguan District, Changchun, 130041, Jilin, China. zhangy66@jlu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D014785:Vision, Ocular
chemical_list: D005136:Eye Proteins
keywords: Collagen; Corneal stroma; Glucoprotein; Protein; Proteoglycan