Extracellular Matrix Metalloproteinase Inducer (EMMPRIN) Expression in Conjunctival Epithelial Cells: An in vitro and ex vivo Study

Abstract

Purpose: : To analyze the expression of Extracellular Matrix Metalloproteinase Inducer (EMMPRIN) by conjunctival epithelial cells in normal and pathological conditions.

Methods: : The expression of EMMPRIN was assessed in vitro using two conjunctival epithelial cell lines (IOBA and Chang derivatives cells). To investigate the regulation of EMMPRIN as a function of the degree of confluence, cells were plated at different densities and cultured for 24 hours before confocal immunohistochemistry analysis. To assess the implication of EMMPRIN in the conjunctiva in ocular surface diseases, impression cytology specimens were used to analyze ex vivo EMMPRIN expression in patients with dry eye and ocular rosacea. Confocal immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry were used to assess EMMPRIN expression on impression cytology specimens.

Results: : In vitro, under normal conditions an expression of EMMPRIN could be observed in conjunctival cell cultures. Confocal immunohistochemistry demonstrated an inverse regulation of EMMPRIN with cell density, the highest level of EMMPRIN associated with sparse cultures. Ex vivo, an expression of EMMPRIN could be also detected on impression cytology specimens in pathological conditions both using flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry.

Conclusions: : EMMPRIN is expressed by conjunctival cells under normal and pathological conditions. Conjunctival cell lines and impression cytology have been successfully used to analyze this expression both in vitro and ex vivo. Further studies will assess the modulation and the role of EMMPRIN in ocular surface disorders.

Keywords: conjunctiva • flow cytometry • immunohistochemistry