Samples containing corneas were thawed, minced, and processed
for 80 seconds (Tissue Tearer; Biospec Products, Bartlesville, OK),
sonicated for 20 seconds, and clarified by centrifugation at
150g for 10 minutes, thus producing clarified corneal
lysates. Samples (clarified corneal lysates or supernatant) were
assayed by ELISA for MIP-2, MIP-1α, and IL-6. The MIP-2 kit (assay
sensitivity, 1.5 pg/mL), and MIP-1α kit (assay sensitivity, 1.5
pg/mL), were purchased from R&D Systems (Minneapolis, MN). The IL-6 kit
(assay sensitivity, 7.0 pg/mL) were purchased from Endogen, Inc.