Abstract
Purpose: :
Hevin is a matricellular protein involved in the tissue repair and remodeling process by interacting with the surrounding extracellular matrix. This study examined the role of Hevin in the corneal wound healing mechanism.
Methods: :
Animals were divided into three groups with six eyes each at 4 time points- 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks. Group I underwent IrrPTK after epithelial debridement using excimer laser, Group II received epithelial debridement, and Group III was naïve. Corneas were analyzed for haze development and wound healing markers using slit lamp biomicroscopy, in vivo confocal microscopy, light microscopy (LM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and immunocytochemistry.
Results: :
Hevin null mice developed haze and inflammation earlier in the corneal wound healing compared to the wildtype (WT) group. LM and TEM also confirmed activated keratocytes (myofibroblasts) and inflammatory debris in the stroma in Hevin null mouse model.
Conclusions: :
Hevin null mouse is highly vulnerable to the corneal injury and develops haze characterized by severe inflammatory and vascularized corneal stromal cells leading to aberrant wound healing.
Keywords: wound healing • extracellular matrix • cornea: stroma and keratocytes