Purpose
Lacrimal gland and accessory lacrimal gland (ALG) tissue contain a variable amount of stem cell marker positive cells. Other exocrine tissues have been shown to have differential expression of stem cell marker positive cells related to patient characteristics. This differential expression may be of value to determine the health, responsiveness to therapeutic interventions and prognostication for patients with various disease states. We previously demonstrated the utility of tissue microarray (TMA) and immunofluorescence (IF) based analysis of ALG using muller’s muscle conjunctival resection (MMCR) specimens. We studied the qualitative expression of the known stem cell and lacrimal cell markers (ABCG2, CD90, ABCG5, Nestin, CD49f, Aquaporin-5, Histatin-1, Lactoferrin, and Lacritin) in TMAs and compared these results with relevant patient characteristics (age, gender, race, status of ocular surface health).
Methods
ALG tissues obtained from MMCR specimens were created using TMAs. TMAs were constructed using manual tissue arrayer and blocks were cut into sections using paraffin microtome. Stem cell markers levels in TMAs were then assessed by two blinded observers using a standardized scoring system. Patient characteristics such as age, race, and status of ocular surface health were then compared against qualitative expression of stem cell markers.
Results
Expression of stem cell markers vary with patient’s characteristics and disease states.
Conclusions
Thus, differential expression of stem cell markers in ALG may correlate to patient characteristics. This knowledge can be used as a basis for further study, and the development of rational therapeutic interventions.