Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To investigate the role of heat shock proteins (HSPs) on amniotic membrane (AM) using PRK wound healing model. Methods: HSPs-rich AM was made by 40C incubation and HSPs-poor AM was made by 370C incubation with fresh AM for 4 days. We checked the amount of HSPs expression in the AM by western blot and immunohistochemical stain for HSP 90, 70, 60 and 47. PRK (5mm, -9D) was performed on both eyes of 26 albino rabbits. Immediate after PRK, group A (16 eyes) was grafted with HSPs-rich AM, group B (16 eyes) was grafted with HSPs-poor AM, group C (4 eyes) was treated with HSP 90 eye drop, 8 times for 48 hours, and group D (12 eyes) was PRK only as control. Corneal haze was scored for 6 weeks. The corneas were harvested in 24 hours and 6 weeks postoperatively. TUNEL for apoptosis and H&E stain for PMN infiltration were performed at 24 hours. Fibronectin and α-SM actin immunohistochemical staining were performed at 6 weeks postoperatively. Results: Group A, B and C showed less number of TUNEL positive keratocyte and PMN, and α-SM actin intensity than the control. Group A and C showed less TUNEL positive keratocyte than group B significantly, but not significance in PMN and α-SM actin stain. There was no difference of cornea opacity among all groups. Conclusion: Role of HSPs on AM is cytoprotection of keratocytes against damage from excimer laser PRK and it is not related to anti-inflammatory action.
Keywords: 374 cornea: stroma and keratocytes • 552 refractive surgery: PRK • 341 cell death/apoptosis