Secretory Transglutaminase is Differentially Expressed During Corneal Epithelial Wound Healing

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: To evaluate the expression of secretory transglutaminase (transglutaminase P, TGP) during corneal epithelial wound healing in rats. Methods: Two-millimeter wounds were made in central rat cornea and allowed to heal in vivo for 0 to 72 hours. Immunohistochemical microscope and Western blot analysis were used to determine the localization and expression of TGP. Unwounded rat corneas served as control samples. TGP distribution was measured at times up to 72 hours after wounding by immunohistochemistry. Corneal epithelium was harvested at 0, 24, 72 hours after wounding. Tissue lysates of central and peripheral parts in cornea epithelium were analyzed by Western blot analysis for TGP protein. Results: In normal rat corneas, TGP were present at low levels in basal cells of central cornea epithelium, with higher levels in limbal epithelium. In the wounded cornea after 24 hours, TGP was expressed intensively in the wound healing area. Staining of limbal zone was the same as in uninjured corneas. Western blot analysis indicated that TGP was upregulated from central corneal epithelium after wounding. Conclusions: TGP was expressed at high levels in healing area and limbal zone during corneal wound healing. It appears that transglutaminase may be involved in wound healing process following corneal epithelial injury.

Keywords: cornea: basic science • wound healing • cornea: epithelium