Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate the effect of multipurpose contact lens care solutions (MPSs) on membrane-associated mucins (Muc 1 & 16) expressions in the cornea using SV40 transformed Human corneal epithelial Cells (HCET) and Rat cornea tissue sections. Membrane-associated mucins are one of the major components of the ocular surface that play a vital role in the maintenance of the ocular surface integrity.
Methods: :
Human corneal epithelial cells were treated with different concentrations of MPS-A, MPS-B, MPS-C, MPS-D, and MPS-E: 100% treatment for 30 minutes and 10% treatment for 24 hours. Membrane-associated mucins (Muc 1 and Muc 16) expressions were subsequently analyzed by Western blot. Winstar Rats were also subjected to MPSs (1 drop in the right eye every 10 minutes for 1 hour). The left Eye was used as control (1 drop of PBS every 10 min for 1 hour). Cornea sections and lysates were prepared from the eyes of the treated rats and used for the immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis of membrane-associated mucins expressions. Western blot was also used to analyze the effect of 0.1% macrogolglycerol hydroxystearate (HCO), 0.1% poloxamer, 0.1% poloxamine, 5 pm polyaminopropyl biguanide (PHMB), 0.05% boric acid, and 0.1% boric acid, common MPSs ingredients, on membrane-associated mucins (Muc 1 and Muc 16 ) expressions in HCET after 24 hours treatment.
Results: :
Western blot results showed that MPSs containing boric acid down-regulate membrane-associated mucins in the cornea while MPSs without boric acid had no effect on membrane-associated mucins. Immunohistochemistry analysis of membrane-associated mucins expressions confirmed the results of the Western blot analysis.
Conclusions: :
Multipurpose solutions’ composition should be clinically controlled because Mucins play a very important role in the ocular surface integrity maintenance and the tear film stability.
Keywords: cornea: surface mucins • contact lens • cornea: tears/tear film/dry eye