Abstract
Purpose: :
Membrane-associated mucins play an important role for protecting from invasion of pathogens at the ocular surface. The purpose of this study was to determine whether multi-purpose contact-lens care solutions (MPSs) and their ingredients regulate the expression of membrane-associated mucins in human corneal epithelial cells.
Methods: :
SV40-immortalized human corneal epithelial cells (HCE-T cells) were cultured in DMEM/F12 medium with 5% fetal bovine serum to confluence, and then cultured with 10% five different MPSs, or their representative ingredients, 5ppm polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB), 0.1% macrogolglycerol hydroxystearate, 0.1% poloxamer, 0.1% poloxamine, or 0.1% boric acid for 24 hours. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to investigate the gene expression of MUC1, MUC4, and MUC16. Immuno-fluorescence of MUC16 protein on the surface of the HCE-T cells was observed by confocal laser scanning microscope imaging.
Results: :
Two MPSs without boric acid had no effects on gene and protein expression of membrane-associated mucins. Three MPSs containing boric acid reduced gene expressions of MUC1, MUC4 and MUC16 to 22-60%, 34-45% and 62-68%, respectively. Immuno-fluorescence microscopy demonstrated that these MPSs reduced the expression of MUC16 protein. Among ingredients, boric acid reduced gene expressions of MUC1, MUC4 and MUC16 to 7%, 56%, 19%, respectively.
Conclusions: :
MPSs containing boric acid down-regulate membrane-associated mucins as compared to MPSs that do not contain boric acid. There may be some subtle interactions between ingredients in these solutions that can affect mucins.
Keywords: cornea: epithelium • contact lens • gene/expression