title: Human Lacrimal Gland Gene Expression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The study of human lacrimal gland biology and development is limited. Lacrimal gland tissue is damaged or poorly functional in a number of disease states including dry eye disease. Development of cell based therapies for lacrimal gland diseases requires a better understanding of the gene expression and signaling pathways in lacrimal gland. Differential gene expression analysis between lacrimal gland and other embryologically similar tissues may be helpful in furthering our understanding of lacrimal gland development.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed global gene expression analysis of human lacrimal gland tissue using Affymetrix ® gene expression arrays. Primary data from our laboratory was compared with datasets available in the NLM GEO database for other surface ectodermal tissues including salivary gland, skin, conjunctiva and corneal epithelium.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The analysis revealed statistically significant difference in the gene expression of lacrimal gland tissue compared to other ectodermal tissues. The lacrimal gland specific, cell surface secretory protein encoding genes and critical signaling pathways which distinguish lacrimal gland from other ectodermal tissues are described.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Differential gene expression in human lacrimal gland compared with other ectodermal tissue types revealed interesting patterns which may serve as the basis for future studies in directed differentiation among other areas.
authors.affiliation: Lacrimal Cell Biology Laboratory, University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America.
authors.forename: Vinay Kumar
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Aakalu
authors.affiliation: Radheshyam Kanoi Stem Cell Laboratory, Vision Research Foundation, Kamalnayan Bajaj Institute for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Sowmya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Parameswaran
authors.affiliation: Research Informatics Core, Research Resources Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maienschein-Cline
authors.affiliation: Research Informatics Core, Research Resources Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America.
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bahroos
authors.affiliation: Lacrimal Cell Biology Laboratory, University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America.
authors.forename: Dhara
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Lacrimal Cell Biology Laboratory, University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America.
authors.forename: Marwan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Radheshyam Kanoi Stem Cell Laboratory, Vision Research Foundation, Kamalnayan Bajaj Institute for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Subramanian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Krishnakumar
mesh_terms: D030541:Databases, Genetic; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D005136:Eye Proteins