Abstract
Purpose: :
Cystic fibrosis is an autosomal recessive disorder with a potential lethal outcome among white populations caused by mutations in a single gene on chromosome 7 that encodes the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). These mutations cause disruption of CFTR function within epithelial cells including the eye. In this study we examined the expression of Fas on conjunctival epithelial cells in patients with cystic fibrosis.
Methods: :
We studied twenty-seven patients with cystic fibrosis and twenty-seven normal subjects. Conjunctival epithelial cells were obtained by impression cytology, and processed and analyzed for flow cytometry.
Results: :
The analysis of Fas expression showed a significant increases in the cystic fibrosis patients compared with the control group.
Conclusions: :
Fas expression in cystic fibrosis conjunctival epithelium could play an important role in controlling local inflammatory cell apoptosis and may confirm the role of Fas in maintaining ocular immune privilege. Our observations have important implications related to development of therapeutic strategies for the treatment ocular surface changes in this condition.
Keywords: apoptosis/cell death • flow cytometry • conjunctiva