Project description:Gel-forming mucins secreted by conjunctival goblet cells have been implicated in the clearance of allergens, pathogens, and debris. Here, we found that B6J mouse conjunctival goblet cell mucins are Alcian blue-positive due to sialylation in the steady state. However, Balb/c mouse strain was found to have Alcian blue-negative goblet cells in the conjunctiva. To understand the mechanisms underlying this difference, we performed microarray analysis.
Project description:Trachoma is a poorly understood immuno-fibrogenic disease process, initiated by Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct). Differences in conjunctival gene expression profiles between Tanzanians with trachomatous conjunctival scarring (with (TSI) and without (TS) inflammation) and controls (C) were investigated to identify relevant host responses. Tarsal conjunctival swab samples were collected for RNA isolation and Ct PCR. Transcriptome-wide microarray experiments were conducted on 41 samples (TSI 13, TS 15, C14). Cases had enrichment in proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines (IL1B, IL8, CXCL5, CCL20); Matrix metalloprotienases (MMP7, MMP9, MMP12); components of the cornified envelope / squamous metaplasia (SPRR2a, SPRR2F).
Project description:Trachoma is a poorly understood immuno-fibrogenic disease process, initiated by Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct). Differences in conjunctival gene expression profiles between Tanzanians with trachomatous conjunctival scarring (with (TSI) and without (TS) inflammation) and controls (C) were investigated to identify relevant host responses. Tarsal conjunctival swab samples were collected for RNA isolation and Ct PCR. Transcriptome-wide microarray experiments were conducted on 41 samples (TSI 13, TS 15, C14). Cases had enrichment in proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines (IL1B, IL8, CXCL5, CCL20); Matrix metalloprotienases (MMP7, MMP9, MMP12); components of the cornified envelope / squamous metaplasia (SPRR2a, SPRR2F). Case - control study. Conjunctival swab samples were collected from people with trachomatious conjunctival scarring with (TSI) and without (TS) clinically visable inflammation compared to normal controls (C). Total RNA extracted and analysed on the Illumina WG-6 platrom. Additional extensive qRT-PCR work done on a large set of case-control pairs.
Project description:Human conjunctival cell lines are useful tools for modeling ocular surface disease and evaluation of ocular drugs. Here we demonstrate that the IOBA-NHC and the ChWK conjunctival epithelial cell lines show, using an unbiased gene microarray approach, unique gene expression signatures that differ from primary conjunctival epithelial cells (PCEC) and conjunctival tissue. Globally, the expression profile obtained with the Affymetrix U133A chip (>22000 genes) from PCEC was clustered more closely to conjunctival tissue than either of the 2 cell lines. However, when restricted to Gene Ontology sub-categories: cellular defense, viral replication/cycling, antigen presentation, anti-oxidant pathways and ubiquitin ligase complex, the cell lines correlated reasonably well to PCEC (r > 0.70). In the category response to inflammation, correlation of cell lines to PCEC was poor (r = -0.012 and –0.041 for IOBA-NHC and ChWK respectively). In general, the expression profile in IOBA-NHC cells was better correlated to PCEC than the ChWK cells. This was statistically significant (p<0.05) when one considers all the genes on the chip, or for proteins in the extracellular region, response to wounding, stress, lipid, protein and organic acid metabolism, development and differentiation. Our results are useful for the choice of conjunctival cell lines, if necessary, in future experiments, to increase validity of extrapolation to clinical scenarios. Keywords: Cell type comparison
Project description:Genome-wide analysis of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) induced changes in gene expression in immortalized human conjunctival epithelial cells. Analysis of regulation of immortalized human conjunctival epithelial cells by dihydrotestosterone at gene expression level. The hypothesis tested in the present study was that the androgen-eye interaction in ocular surface epithelial cells like conjunctival cells is influenced by androgens through regulation of the expression of multiple genes. Results provide important information of the differential regulation of numerous genes in response to dihydrotestosterone incubation of immortalized human conjunctival epithelial cells.
Project description:Genome-wide analysis of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) induced changes in gene expression in immortalized human conjunctival epithelial cells. Analysis of regulation of immortalized human conjunctival epithelial cells by dihydrotestosterone at gene expression level. The hypothesis tested in the present study was that the androgen-eye interaction in ocular surface epithelial cells like conjunctival cells is influenced by androgens through regulation of the expression of multiple genes. Results provide important information of the differential regulation of numerous genes in response to dihydrotestosterone incubation of immortalized human conjunctival epithelial cells. Total RNA was obtained from immortalized human conjunctival epithelial cells treated for 96 hours with 10 nM dihydrotestosterone (n=3) or vehicle (n=3). The RNA was then used with Illumina HumanHT-12 v3 Expression BeadChips to determine the effect of DHT on gene expression in an immortalized human conjunctival epithelial cell line developed in Dr. Rheinwald's laboratory [Rheinwald et al. MCB, 22 (14): 5157. (2002)] and charecterized in Dr. Ilene Gibson's laboratory [Gipson et al. IOVS, 44 (6): 2496. (2003)].
Project description:Trachoma is a poorly understood immuno-fibrogenic disease process, initiated by Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct). Differences in conjunctival gene expression profiles between Ethiopians with trachomatous trichiasis (with (TTI) and without (TT) inflammation) and controls (NC) were investigated to identify relevant host responses. Tarsal conjunctival swab samples were collected for RNA isolation and Ct PCR. Transcriptome-wide microarray experiments were conducted on 42 samples (TTI 13, TT 15, NC14). Specific results were confirmed using multiplex quantitative RT-PCR for 16 mRNA targets in an independent collection of case-control samples: 386 case-control pairs (TTI 244, TT 142, NC 386). The gene expression profiles of cases were consistent with: squamous metaplasia (Keratins, SPRR), pro-inflammatory cytokine production (IL-1β, CXCL5, S100A7) and tissue remodelling (MMP7, MMP9, MMP12, HAS3). There was no difference in the level of IFNG between cases and controls. However, cases had increased INDO, NOS2A, and IL13RA2 and reduced IL13. Ct was detected in 1/772. Cases show evidence of ongoing inflammation and tissue remodelling, which were more marked where clinical inflammation was also present. Significantly, these processes appear to be active in the absence of current Ct infection. There was limited evidence of a TH1 response (INDO, NOS2A) and no association between a TH2 response and cases. The epithelium appears actively involved in late cicatricial stages of trachoma through production of pro-inflammatory factors (IL-1β, CXCL5, S100A7). Longitudinal studies are needed to investigate which aetiological factors and pathways are associated with progressive scarring and whether simply controlling chlamydial infection will halt progression in people with established cicatricial disease. Case - control study. Conjunctival swab samples were collected from people with trachomatous trichiasis with (TTI) and without (TT) clinically visable inflammation compared to normal controls (C). Total RNA extracted and analysed on the Illumina WG-6 platrom. Additional extensive qRT-PCR work done on a large set of case-control pairs.
Project description:Purpose: To identify the changes in postnatal mouse conjunctival forniceal gene expression and their regulation by Klf4 around eye opening stage when the goblet cells first appear. Methods: Laser-capture-microdissection was used to collect conjunctival forniceal epithelial cells from postnatal-day (PN) 9, PN14 and PN20 wild-type (WT), and PN14 Klf4-conditional null (Klf4CN) mice, where goblet cells are absent, developing, present, and missing, respectively. Microarrays were used to compare gene expression among these four groups. Expression of selected genes was validated by Q-RT-PCR, and spatiotemporal expression assessed by in situ hybridization. Results: We identified 668, 251, 1160 and 139 genes that were upregulated and 492, 377, 1419 and 57 genes that were downregulated between PN9 and PN14, PN14 and PN20, PN9 and PN20, and PN14 WT and Klf4CN conjunctiva, respectively. Transcription factors Spdef, FoxA1 and FoxA3 that regulate goblet cell development in other mucosal epithelia, and epithelial specific Ets (ESE) transcription factor family members were upregulated during conjunctival development. Mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) was favored and diverse pathways related to glycoprotein biosynthesis, mucosal immunity, signaling, endocytic and neural regulation were affected during conjunctival development. Conjunctival Klf4-target genes differed significantly from the previously identified corneal Klf4-target genes, implying tissue-dependant regulatory targets for Klf4. Conclusions: We have identified the changes in gene expression accompanying mouse conjunctival development and the role of Klf4 in this process. These studies provide new probes to study conjunctival epithelial development and function, and reveal that the gene regulatory network required for goblet cell development is conserved across different mucosal epithelia.