Abstract
Purpose :
In keratoconus (KC), structural and compositional changes leads to disruptions of the lamellar organization with thinning and scarring of the central part of the cornea. The underlying pathomechnism is unknown. Both genetic and environmental factors have been associated with KC and recent studies suggest that also inflammatory conditions, e.g. high TNF-α level, might play a role in the onset of KC. In order to get more insights and to find mouse model for KC, we analysed the corneas of hTNFtg mice as well as of syndecan-1 and -4 deficient mice.
Methods :
The suprastructural organization of the corneas of hTNFtg, syndecan-1 and -4 deficient mice as well as of KC patients were analysed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The degradation of collagens in the stroma was visualized by the collagen hybridizing peptide B-CHP. Moreover, 3D-cell cultures of isolated human keratocytes were analysed by TEM and for activity of the cross-linking tissue transglutaminase (TG).
Results :
Sheets of orthogonally arranged collagen fibrils were found in the stroma of wild-type mice and human controls. In contrast, lamellae were disrupted and mean fibril diameter increased in hTNFtg as well as in both syndecan-deficient mice. Interestingly, the stroma morphology of hTNFtg mice was very similar to that found in KC patients. Moreover, we found an invasion of macrophages and keratocytes showed signs of apoptosis. 3D-cell cultures of KC keratocytes generated a structurally altered ECM with reduced TG-activity in contrast to controls. In addition, binding of B-CHP was stronger in KC as well as in hTNFtg mice. Moreover, alterations in the epithelium with disrupted cell-cell-contacts and alterations in the Bowman`s membrane were found in all analysed mouse models.
Conclusions :
The disruption of the lamellar organization of collagen fibrils in hTNFtg, syndecan-1 and -4 deficient mice is similar to that found in the stroma of KC patients. Thus, inflammatory factors and altered cross-links could be crucial for the onset of KC. The stronger higher binding B-CHP supports our hypothesis of an enhanced degradation of collagens in the stroma. Therefore, further analysis of hTNFtg mice as a mouse model for KC will help to understand the underlying pathomechanisms of KC. Moreover, analysis of syndecan-deficient mice will provide new insights in the mechanisms of lamellae formation and fibril diameter control.
This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.