title: Quiescent and Active Tear Protein Profiles to Predict Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis Reactivation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is a chronic recurrent bilateral inflammation of the conjunctiva associated with atopy. Several inflammatory and tissue remodeling factors contribute to VKC disease. The aim is to provide a chip-based protein analysis in tears from patients suffering from quiescent or active VKC.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study cohort included 16 consecutive patients with VKC and 10 controls. Participants were subjected to clinical assessment of ocular surface and tear sampling. Total protein quantification, total protein sketch, and protein array (sixty protein candidates) were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An overall increased Fluorescent Intensity expression was observed in VKC arrays. Particularly, IL1β, IL15, IL21, Eotaxin2, TACE, MIP1α, MIP3α, NCAM1, ICAM2, βNGF, NT4, BDNF, βFGF, SCF, MMP1, and MMP2 were increased in quiescent VKC. Of those candidates, only IL1β, IL15, IL21, βNGF, SCF, MMP2, Eotaxin2, TACE, MIP1α, MIP3α, NCAM1, and ICAM2 were increased in both active and quiescent VKC. Finally, NT4, βFGF, and MMP1 were highly increased in active VKC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A distinct "protein tear-print" characterizes VKC activity, confirming some previously reported factors and highlighting some new candidates common to quiescent and active states. Those candidates expressed in quiescent VKC might be considered as predictive indicators of VKC reactivation and/or exacerbation out-of-season.
authors.affiliation: IRCCS-G.B. Bietti Foundation, 00100 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Micera
authors.affiliation: IRCCS-G.B. Bietti Foundation, 00100 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Zazzo
authors.affiliation: IRCCS-G.B. Bietti Foundation, 00100 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Graziana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Campus Bio-Medico University, 00128 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sgrulletta
authors.affiliation: UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London EC1V 9EL, UK.
authors.forename: Virginia L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Calder
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Campus Bio-Medico University, 00128 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bonini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000378:metabolism*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D013666:Tears / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D016207:Cytokines; C522361:MMP2 protein, human; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2