Abstract
Purpose:
We attempt to investigate the epithelial wound healing and heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) phoshorylation in hyperosmolar condition.
Methods:
Telomerase-immortalized human corneal epithelial cells (hTCEpi) were cultured in NaCl-induced hyperosmolar condition. After scratch-induced directional wounding was created, epithelial migration was evaluated. Western blotting was performed using antibodies against phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated HSP27.
Results:
The epithelial wound healing was attenuated in the NaCl-induced hyperosmolar condition. Contrary to the non-phosphorylated HSP27, the phosphorylation of HSP27 increased in the NaCl-induced hyperosmolar condition. The higher hyperosmolar condition, the more wound healing was attenuated and the more HSP27 phosphorylation was induced.
Conclusions:
The HSP27 phosphorylation can be induced and play a role in epithelial migration in the dry eye-related hyperosmolar condition.