Elevated Levels of Human –Defensin in the Tears of Patients With Allergic Conjunctival Disease Complicated by Corneal Lesions; Detection by SELDI Protein Chip System and Quantification

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: To analyze levels of α–defensin in the tears of allergic patients (with/without corneal lesions) comparing the results with those of normal control subjects Methods:Screening of the protein profiles of the tears of allergic patients with corneal epithelial lesions and normal controls was performed by surface enhanced laser desorption/ionization (SELDI) ProteinChip Array initially. ELISA was then performed to quantify the levels of α–defensin in the tears of allergic patients (with/without corneal epithelial lesions) and normal control patients. Results: Proteins expressing significant differences between patients and controls by SELDI analysis were examined. Several peptides with molecular weights similar to be α–defensins) were found to be expressed to a greater extent in allergic patients. ELISA was performed in tears of allergic patients and control subjects to ascertain the presence and increased expression of α–defensins in allergic patients, Concentrations of α–defensins in allergic patients with corneal epithelial lesions were significantly higher than that of allergic patients without epithelial lesions or normal controls. Conclusions: Alpha–defensins were found in greater concentrations in tears of allergic patients with corneal lesions. The anti–microbial effects of α–defensins may play a role in the prevention of secondary infection of corneal lesions in allergic patients. SELDI ProteinChip technology is a useful and effective tool in profiling the differential expression of proteins in tears.

Keywords: cornea: clinical science • conjunctivitis • cornea: tears/tear film/dry eye