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Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Corneal Disease

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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The human cornea is a crystal-clear tissue covering the front of the eye. Its architecture and organization ensure visual acuity. The corneal microenvironment consist of five distinct (three cellular and two acellular) layers. Corneal trauma and/or diseases can have irreversible and devastating results that lead to partial or total blindness. Many factors can affect the ending of corneal disorders, and ultimately determine vision and life quality. Significant advances in our understanding of cellular and molecular mechanisms have been reported in the literature; however, significant gaps exist in early diagnosis and successful therapies. This is further highlighted by the fact that corneal transplantation remains the gold standard treatment for patients with significant corneal injury/trauma. A multidisciplinary approach seems necessary in order to tackle the complex pathobiology of corneal disease and trauma. The main aim of this Special Issue is to bring together all experts in the corneal field and publish cutting-edge research that can significantly advance our knowledge and transform future therapies. From the corneal epithelium to the endothelium, all contributions are welcome.

Dr. Dimitrios Karamichos
Guest Editor

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Keywords

corneal disease and trauma
corneal immunology
corneal anatomy and pathology
corneal bioengineering and biomechanics

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 1684 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Arginine Supplementation Promotes Extracellular Matrix and Metabolic Changes in Keratoconus

by Tina B. McKay, Shrestha Priyadarsini, Tyler Rowsey and Dimitrios Karamichos

Cells 2021, 10(8), 2076; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells10082076 - 13 Aug 2021

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 2705

Abstract

Keratoconus (KC) is a common corneal ectatic disease that affects 1:500–1:2000 people worldwide and is associated with a progressive thinning of the corneal stroma that may lead to severe astigmatism and visual deficits. Riboflavin-mediated collagen crosslinking currently remains the only approved treatment to halt progressive corneal thinning associated with KC by improving the biomechanical properties of the stroma. Treatments designed to increase collagen deposition by resident corneal stromal keratocytes remain elusive. In this study, we evaluated the effects of arginine supplementation on steady-state levels of arginine and arginine-related metabolites (e.g., ornithine, proline, hydroxyproline, spermidine, and putrescine) and collagen protein expression by primary human corneal fibroblasts isolated from KC and non-KC (healthy) corneas and cultured in an established 3D in vitro model. We identified lower cytoplasmic arginine and spermidine levels in KC-derived constructs compared to healthy controls, which corresponded with overall higher gene expression of arginase. Arginine supplementation led to a robust increase in cytoplasmic arginine, ornithine, and spermidine levels in controls only and a significant increase in collagen type I secretion in KC-derived constructs. Further studies evaluating safety and efficacy of arginine supplementation are required to elucidate the potential therapeutic applications of modulating collagen deposition in the context of KC. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Corneal Disease)

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Review

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19 pages, 2056 KiB

Open AccessReview

Experimental Models for Fungal Keratitis: An Overview of Principles and Protocols

by Micaela L. Montgomery and Kevin K. Fuller

Cells 2020, 9(7), 1713; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells9071713 - 16 Jul 2020

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 4602

Abstract

Fungal keratitis is a potentially blinding infection of the cornea that afflicts diverse patient populations worldwide. The development of better treatment options requires a more thorough understanding of both microbial and host determinants of pathology, and a spectrum of experimental models have been developed toward this end. In vivo (animal) models most accurately capture complex pathological outcomes, but protocols may be challenging to implement and vary widely across research groups. In vitro models allow for the molecular dissection of specific host cell–fungal interactions, but they do so without the appropriate environmental/structural context; ex vivo (corneal explant) models provide the benefits of intact corneal tissue, but they do not provide certain pathological features, such as inflammation. In this review, we endeavor to outline the key features of these experimental models as well as describe key technical variations that could impact study design and outcomes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Corneal Disease)

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