Original scientific paper
The Expression of Human Corneal MMP-2, MMP-9, proMMP-13 and TIMP-1 in Bullous Keratopathy and Keratoconus
Jurica Predović
Tihomir Balog
Tanja Marotti
Nikica Gabrić
Maja Bohač
Ivana Romac
Iva Dekaris
Abstract
We aim to find a link between keratokonus (KC) and bullous keratopathy (BK), and extra cellular matrix re-modellation
molecules. The activities of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), pro-matrix
metalloproteinase-13 (proMMP-13) and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) were measured using
immunoassay in three human corneal tissue layers (epithelium, stroma and endothelium) supernatants of the patients
with KC and BK which underwent the perforative keratoplasty. MPP-2, MMP-9, proMMP-13 and TIMP-1 activity was
detected in all samples. The epithelial layer showed significantly higher levels of MMP-9 and proMMP-13 in BK than in
KC. Increased levels of MMP-2 (p=0.07) levels were found in bullous keratopathy compared to keratoconus patients. Epithelial
TIMP-1 showed no significant difference in activity between KC and BK. All these findings suggest an active degradation
of the extra-cellular matrix in epithelial corneal layer in Bullous Keratopathy. No difference in the concentration
of MMP-2, MMP-9, proMMP-13 and TIMP-1 between KC and BK in corneal stroma and endothelium suggest that
neither of these molecules play important role in KC or BK pathogenesis, at least not in stroma and endothelium.
Keywords
corneal transplantation; keratoconus; corneal edema; metalloproteinases; tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase- 1
Hrčak ID:
34533
URI
Publication date:
1.10.2008.
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