epidermal-growth-factor and Dry-Eye-Syndromes

Topics: Administration, Topical; Cell Movement; Cell Proliferation; Dry Eye Syndromes; Epidermal Growth Factor; Epithelium, Corneal; Fibronectins; Humans; Hyaluronan Receptors; Hyaluronic Acid; Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca; Tears; Viscosupplements; Wound Healing

Tears have antimicrobial, nourishing, mechanical, and optical properties. They contain components such as growth factors, fibronectin, and vitamins to support proliferation, migration, and differentiation of the corneal and conjunctival epithelium. A lack of these epitheliotrophic factors--for example, in dry eye, can result in severe ocular surface disorders such as persistent epithelial defects. Recently, the use of autologous serum in the form of eye drops has been reported as a new treatment for severe ocular surface disorders. Serum eye drops may be produced as an unpreserved blood preparation. They are by nature non-allergenic and their biomechanical and biochemical properties are similar to normal tears. In vitro cell culture experiments showed that corneal epithelial cell morphology and function are better maintained by serum than by pharmaceutical tear substitutes. Clinical cohort studies have reported its successful use for severe dry eyes and persistent epithelial defects. However, the protocols to prepare and use autologous serum eye drops varied considerably between the studies. As this can result in different biochemical properties protocol variations may also influence the epitheliotrophic effect of the product. Before the definitive role of serum eye drops in the management of severe ocular surface disease can be established in a large randomised controlled trial this has to be evaluated in more detail. In view of legislative restrictions and based upon the literature reviewed here a preliminary standard operating procedure for the manufacture of serum eye drops is proposed.

Topics: Cornea; Dry Eye Syndromes; Epidermal Growth Factor; Epithelial Cells; Epithelium, Corneal; Humans; Keratoconjunctivitis; Ophthalmic Solutions; Quality Control; Serum; Transforming Growth Factor beta

Topics: Cell Division; Conjunctiva; Dry Eye Syndromes; Epidermal Growth Factor; Epithelial Cells; Epithelium; Humans; Inflammation; Lacrimal Apparatus; Metaplasia; Models, Biological; Surface Properties; Tears; Transforming Growth Factor beta

This study compared the changes in tear inflammatory cytokine levels after intense pulsed light (IPL) combined with meibomian gland expression (MGX) (IPL group) and instant warm compresses combined with MGX (physiotherapy group) as treatments for meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD)-related dry eye disease (DED) to explore their similarities and differences in therapeutic mechanisms.. At the last measurement, a significant decrease was observed in all tear cytokines for both IPL and physiotherapy groups compared with baseline. The IPL group showed greater reductions in IL-6, IL-6R, IL-1β, IL-13, and CCL11/Eotaxin than the physiotherapy group. TNF-α, CXCL8/IL-8, CXCL10/IP-10, IL-10, EGF, IL-1β, IFN-γ, and Lipocalin-2/NGAL levels continued to decrease with treatment time. Important interactions were found in the changes of IL-6 and IL-13 levels, where the levels first decreased and then slightly increased in the physiotherapy group after treatment, while they continued to decrease in the IPL group.. The mechanisms of IPL and physiotherapy in treating MGD-related DED were both associated with reducing inflammation, and the superiority of IPL could be attributed to its better inhibitory effect on inflammatory cytokines like IL-6. In addition, several cytokines were on a downward trend during treatment, suggesting that the vicious cycle of DED was suppressed.

Topics: Chemokine CXCL10; Cytokines; Dry Eye Syndromes; Epidermal Growth Factor; Fas Ligand Protein; Humans; Interleukin-10; Interleukin-12; Interleukin-13; Interleukin-17; Interleukin-6; Interleukin-8; Lactoferrin; Lipocalin-2; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; Meibomian Gland Dysfunction; Meibomian Glands; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

To analyze the effects of sodium hyaluronate combined with recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF) eye drops in patients with dry eye. Totally 97 patients who suffered dry eye after cataract surgery in our hospital from March 2018 to June 2020 were selected and randomly assigned into control group (n=57, sodium hyaluronate eye drops) and intervention group (n=63, sodium hyaluronate combined with rhEGF eye drops). The clinical efficacy, Break Up Time (BUT), schirmer I test (SLt), fluorescent test (FL) and ocular surface disease index (OSDI), the scale of quality of life for disease with visual impairment (SQOL-DVI), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-a) level of the two groups were compared. The intervention group yielded remarkably higher effective rate than the control group (p<0.05). Markedly higher BUT, SLt, SQOL-DVI scores and lower OSDI scores were witnessed among patients in the intervention group than the control group (p<0.05). The clinical effect of sodium hyaluronate combined with rhEGF eye drops in the treatment of dry eye is superior to sodium hyaluronate alone, in terms of enhancing the stability of tear film, accelerating corneal healing, inhibiting the level of inflammatory factors and improving patients' quality of life.

Topics: Administration, Ophthalmic; Adult; Aged; Cataract Extraction; China; Drug Combinations; Dry Eye Syndromes; Epidermal Growth Factor; Female; Humans; Hyaluronic Acid; Male; Middle Aged; Ophthalmic Solutions; Prospective Studies; Quality of Life; Recombinant Proteins; Recovery of Function; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome

The diagnosis and monitoring of Sjögren syndrome (SS) is often difficult, requiring a multidisciplinary approach with invasive procedures. Our aim is to elucidate the tear protein alterations of dry eye disease (DED) with primary SS (pSS) and secondary SS (sSS) with the long-term instillation of eyedrops. We collected clinical demographics and tear fluid (TF) samples from DED patients with no autoimmune diseases (non-SS-DED), pSS-DED, and sSS-DED patients, followed by TF screening with tandem mass tagging-labeling gel-free proteomics assay. Bioinformatic analysis via Ingenuity Pathway Analysis was used to identify functional pathways and interacting networks. Validation of candidate proteins with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay on the tear samples was done. The top functional pathways of the two comparisons (sSS-DED vs. pSS-DED and sSS-DED vs. non-SS-DED) were both associated with inflammation and stress-related signaling. After constructing an interaction network model with the selected candidate proteins, five proteins were identified. A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase domain-containing protein 10 (ADAM10) was found to be an important candidate biomarker in all groups, followed by epidermal growth factor (EGF) in TF. This study revealed novel DED markers, ADAM10 and EGF, in differentiating between primary and secondary SS patients from tears by in-depth proteomic analysis.

Topics: Dry Eye Syndromes; Epidermal Growth Factor; Humans; Ophthalmic Solutions; Proteomics; Sjogren's Syndrome; Tears

To enhance the understanding of dry eye (DE) in diabetes by evaluating the ocular surface characteristics and the levels of tear inflammatory cytokines.. Cross-sectional study.. Subjects were divided into 4 groups: 32 patients in the diabetes with DE group; 24 patients in the diabetes without DE group; 28 patients in the nondiabetes with DE group; and 29 volunteers in the normal group. Ocular surface disease index (OSDI) was self-answered and ocular surface characteristics including tear film break-up time (BUT), Schirmer I test, corneal fluorescein staining (CFS), and corneal sensitivity were evaluated. Concentrations of epidermal growth factor (EGF), IL-17A, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were measured by mutiplex bead analysis. Spearman correlations between cytokines and ocular surface parameters were calculated.. The level of EGF in tears significantly increased in the diabetes with DE group and positively correlated with the CFS and negatively correlated with the Schirmer I test in this group (P < .05). No differences were found in the levels of IL-17A, IL-1β, and TNF-α in the diabetes with DE and diabetes without DE groups compared to the normal group (P > .05). The nondiabetes with DE group showed increased levels of IL-17A, IL-1β, and TNF-α in tears compared to the normal group and the levels of IL-1β and TNF-α in tears positively correlated with CFS (P < .05).. Our study showed that levels of EGF in tears have potential to be the diagnostic biomarker of DE in diabetes. No differences of IL-17A, IL-1β, and TNF-α in tears were found between the diabetes with DE and normal group, suggesting different pathogenesis of diabetes DE vs nondiabetes DE.

Topics: Aged; Biomarkers; Cross-Sectional Studies; Cytokines; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Dry Eye Syndromes; Epidermal Growth Factor; Eye Proteins; Female; Humans; Interleukin-17; Interleukin-1beta; Male; Middle Aged; Tears

In the present study, the effects of erlotinib on mouse tear function and corneal epithelial tissue structure were investigated. Throughout the 3 weeks of treatment, no notable differences were observed in the body, eye or lacrimal gland weights of the control and experimental mice. However, in the experimental group, the tear volume and break‑up times of tear film were significantly lower following treatment with erlotinib compared with the control group. Corneal fluorescein staining in the experimental group revealed patchy staining, and the Lissamine green staining and inflammatory index were significantly higher in the experimental group at 3 weeks than in the control group. In the experimental group, the number of corneal epithelium layers increased significantly following treatment with erlotinib for 3 weeks and a significant increase in the number of vacuoles was observed compared with the control group. Treatment with erlotinib significantly increased the corneal epithelial cell apoptosis, and led to a significantly increased number of epithelial cell layers and increased keratin 10 expression. It also significantly reduced the number of conjunctival goblet cells. Transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy revealed that the corneal epithelial surface was irregular and there was a substantial reduction and partial loss of the microvilli in the experimental group. Mice treated with erlotinib also exhibited an increased protein expression of tumor necrosis factor‑α and decreased protein expression of phosphorylated‑epidermal growth factor receptor in the corneal epithelial cells. The topical application of erlotinib eye drops was revealed to induce dry eyes in mice. This is a novel method of developing a model of dry eyes in mice.

Topics: Administration, Topical; Animals; Cell Count; Cornea; Disease Models, Animal; Dry Eye Syndromes; Epidermal Growth Factor; Epithelium; Erlotinib Hydrochloride; Goblet Cells; Inflammation; Male; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Ophthalmic Solutions; Phosphorylation; Tears; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

To develop a tear molecule level-based predictive model based on a panel of tear cytokines and their correlation with clinical features in ocular chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD).. Twenty-two ocular cGVHD patients and 21 healthy subjects were evaluated in a controlled environmental research laboratory (CERLab). Clinical parameters were recorded, and tears were collected. Levels of 15 molecules (epidermal growth factor [EGF], IL receptor antagonist [IL-1Ra], IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8/CXCL8, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-17A, interferon inducible protein [IP]-10/CXCL10, IFN-γ, VEGF, TNF-α, eotaxin 1, and regulated on activation normal T cell expressed and secreted [RANTES]) were measured by multiplex-bead assay and correlated with clinical parameters. Logistic regression was used to develop a predictive model. Leave-one-out cross-validation was applied. Classification capacity was evaluated in a cohort of individuals with dry eye (DE) of other etiologies different from GVHD.. Epidermal growth factor and IP-10/CXCL10 levels were significantly decreased in ocular cGVHD, positively correlating with tear production and stability and negatively correlating with symptoms, hyperemia, and vital staining. Interleukin-1Ra, IL-8/CXCL8, and IL-10 were significantly increased in ocular cGVHD, and the first two correlated positively with symptoms, hyperemia, and ocular surface integrity while negatively correlating with tear production and stability. Predictive models were generated, and the best panel was based on IL-8/CXCL8 and IP-10/CXCL10 tear levels along with age and sex, with an area under the receiving operating curve of 0.9004, sensitivity of 86.36%, and specificity of 95.24%.. A predictive model based on tear levels of IL-8/CXCL8 and IP-10/CXCL10 resulted in optimal sensitivity and specificity. These results add further knowledge to the search for potential biomarkers in this devastating ocular inflammatory disease.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Biomarkers; Case-Control Studies; Chemokine CCL11; Chemokines; Cohort Studies; Cytokines; Dry Eye Syndromes; Epidermal Growth Factor; Eye Diseases; Female; Graft vs Host Disease; Humans; Interferon-gamma; Interleukins; Male; Middle Aged; Models, Biological; Predictive Value of Tests; Tears; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

To analyze the effects of supplemental epidermal growth factor (EGF) and the roles of inflammatory cytokines (interleukin [IL]-6) in an ex vivo dry-eye model under hyperosmotic stress using a multilayered culture of human conjunctival epithelial cells (HCECs).. Multilayered cultures of HCECs were exposed to hyperosmotic stress (400 mOsm/L) for 24 h in addition to 0.5 ng/mL EGF (low-EGF group) or 25 ng/mL EGF (high-EGF group). Apoptosis was analyzed using the TUNEL assay. Cell proliferation was measured using the [3H]-thymidine incorporation assay. The expression of IL-6, EGF, EGF receptor (EGFR), and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK) was measured by western blot analysis. The secretion of IL-6 was measured using ELISA. Western blot analysis was also performed using antibodies against cleaved caspase-3.. The percentage of apoptotic cells was lower in the high-EGF group (6.7%) than in the low-EGF group (10.3%). The high-EGF group demonstrated increased proliferation (323.7 counts/min in the low-EGF group vs 649.1 counts/min in the high-EGF group). EGF induced higher phosphor-EGFR expression and upregulated p-ERK in HCECs. In addition, EGF significantly decreased the secretion of IL-6 and cleaved caspase-3 in HCECs.. The level of IL-6 was increased in the ex vivo HCEC dry-eye model that was under hyperosmotic stress. Supplemental EGF reduces the level of IL-6, decreases apoptosis, and increases proliferation. These findings indicate that EGF has potential as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of dry eyes.

Topics: Apoptosis; Blotting, Western; Caspase 3; Cell Count; Cell Proliferation; Cells, Cultured; Conjunctiva; Dry Eye Syndromes; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Epidermal Growth Factor; Epithelial Cells; ErbB Receptors; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; Humans; In Situ Nick-End Labeling; Interleukin-6; Models, Biological; Osmotic Pressure; Phosphorylation; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger; Tissue Donors

To investigate the therapeutic effects and possible mechanisms of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on the mouse dry eye model induced by benzalkonium chloride (BAC).. The eye drop containing EGF was topically administered (3 ng per day) on a BAC-induced dry eye model. The following clinical indications of dry eye were evaluated on Days 2, 4, and 6: tear break-up time (BUT), corneal fluorescein staining, inflammatory index, and tear volume. Global specimens were collected on Day 6 and then the following examinations were performed: histologic investigation, TUNEL assay to measure the dead cells, periodic acid-schiff (PAS) assay to detect goblet cells, and immunostaining of antibodies of Ki-67, EGF receptor (EGFR), and MUC1 in the corneas. The levels of EGFR and p-ERK of the corneas were also measured by Western blot analysis.. EGF resulted in longer BUTs on Days 2 and 6, lower fluorescein staining scores on Days 4 and 6, while no significant changes in inflammatory index or tear volume. EGF induced higher EGFR expression in corneal tissues by immunofluorescent staining and Western blot analysis. EGF also upregulated p-ERK, increased Ki-67 positive cells, and decreased TUNEL positive cells. In addition, EGF significantly increased the goblet cells number and MUC1 expression in the epithelium.. Topical application of EGF presented clinical improvements on dry eye by stabilizing the tear film and maintaining the integrity of epithelium. The results indicate that EGF has potential as a therapeutic agent in clinical treatment of dry eye.

Topics: Animals; Apoptosis; Benzalkonium Compounds; Blotting, Western; Cornea; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Dry Eye Syndromes; Epidermal Growth Factor; Follow-Up Studies; Goblet Cells; In Situ Nick-End Labeling; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Ophthalmic Solutions; Treatment Outcome

To compare tear epidermal growth factor (EGF) concentration in dry eye (DE) conditions and determine correlations between EGF levels and severity of symptoms and ocular surface signs.. In this prospective case-control study, 35 patients with DE, including subgroups with meibomian gland disease (MGD), Sjögren's syndrome (SS) aqueous tear deficiency, or neurotrophic keratopathy (NK), and 17 asymptomatic control subjects were evaluated. Symptoms, Schirmer test, fluorescein clearance test (FCT), EGF concentration, dye staining, and the presence of corneal subepithelial fibrosis and meibomian gland (MG) orifice metaplasia were recorded. Tear EGF and the severity of irritation and ocular surface signs were correlated.. Tear EGF was higher in MGD than in the control (P = 0.03) and was lower in SS than in the control (P < 0.0001; MGD (P < 0.05) and NK (P < 0.01) groups. The DE subgroup with results in the FCT > 3 and Schirmer 1 >or= 8 had higher EGF levels than the group with FCT > 3 and Schirmer 1 < 8 and both groups with good tear clearance (P < 0.01). Tear EGF levels correlated inversely with conjunctival (r = -0.49, P = 0.0032) and corneal (r = -0.39, P = 0.022) dye staining and positively with MG orifice metaplasia (r = 0.36, P = 0.03) and corneal subepithelial fibrosis (r = 0.5, P = 0.0006).. Tear EGF concentration was increased in eyes with MGD, corneal subepithelial fibrosis, and MG orifice metaplasia. Elevated tear EGF may promote development of corneal subepithelial fibrosis and lid margin changes.

Topics: Case-Control Studies; Dry Eye Syndromes; Epidermal Growth Factor; Epithelium, Corneal; Eye Proteins; Eyelid Diseases; Female; Fibrosis; Fluorophotometry; Humans; Immunoassay; Male; Meibomian Glands; Metaplasia; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Tears

Protein kinase C (PKC) α plays a major role in the parasympathetic neural stimulation of lacrimal gland (LG) secretion. It also has been reported to have antiapoptotic properties and to promote cell survival. Therefore, the hypothesis for the present study was that PKCα knockout ((-/-)) mice have impaired ocular surface-lacrimal gland signaling, rendering them susceptible to desiccating stress and impaired corneal epithelial wound healing. In this study, the lacrimal function unit (LFU) and the stressed wound-healing response were examined in PKCα(-/-) mice.. In PKCα(+/+) control mice and PKCα(-/-) mice, tear production, osmolarity, and clearance rate were evaluated before and after experimental desiccating stress. Histology and immunofluorescent staining of PKC and epidermal growth factor were performed in tissues of the LFU. Cornified envelope (CE) precursor protein expression and cell proliferation were evaluated. The time course of healing and degree of neutrophil infiltration was evaluated after corneal epithelial wounding.. Compared with the PKCα(+/+) mice, the PKCα(-/-) mice were noted to have significantly increased lacrimal gland weight, with enlarged, carbohydrate-rich, PAS-positive acinar cells; increased corneal epithelia permeability, with reduced CE expression; and larger conjunctival epithelial goblet cells. The PKCα(-/-) mice showed more rapid corneal epithelial healing, with less neutrophil infiltration and fewer proliferating cells than did the PKCα(+/+) mice.. The PKCα(-/-) mice showed lower tear production, which appeared to be caused by impaired secretion by the LG and conjunctival goblet cells. Despite their altered tear dynamics, the PKCα(-/-) mice demonstrated more rapid corneal epithelial wound healing, perhaps due to decreased neutrophil infiltration.

Topics: Animals; Dextrans; Dry Eye Syndromes; Epidermal Growth Factor; Epithelium, Corneal; Female; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; Lacrimal Apparatus; Male; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Organ Size; Osmolar Concentration; Permeability; Protein Kinase C-alpha; Sodium; Tears; Wound Healing

To compare tear cytokine and chemokine concentrations in asymptomatic control and Dysfunctional Tear syndrome (DTS) patients and determine the correlations between tear inflammatory mediators and clinical severity.. Prospective observational cohort study.. Concentrations of epidermal growth factor (EGF), interleukin (IL)-1 alpha (1alpha), 1 beta (1beta), 6, 10, 12, and 13, interferon gamma (IFN-gamma), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), and chemokines: IL-8 (CXC); macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha (MIP-1alpha) (CCL3); and regulated upon activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES CCL5) were measured by a multiplex immunobead assay in an asymptomatic control group and DTS patients with and without meibomian gland disease (MGD). Spearman correlations between tear cytokines and severity of irritation symptoms and ocular surface signs were calculated.. Tear concentrations of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha were significantly higher in DTS with and without MGD and EGF was significantly reduced in the DTS without MGD group compared with the control group. MIP-1alpha was greater in entire DTS and DTS without MGD groups than the control group and RANTES was greater in DTS with MGD than the control and DTS without MGD groups. IL-12 was significantly higher in the DTS with MGD than the DTS without MGD subgroup. Significant correlations were observed between IL-6 and irritation symptoms and between a number of cytokines and chemokines and clinical parameters.. As predicted, patients with DTS have higher levels of inflammatory mediators in their tears that show correlation with clinical disease parameters. Furthermore, different tear cytokine/chemokine profiles were observed in DTS patients with and without MGD groups.

Topics: Chemokine CCL3; Chemokine CCL5; Chemokines; Cytokines; Dry Eye Syndromes; Epidermal Growth Factor; Eye Proteins; Eyelid Diseases; Female; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Interferon-gamma; Interleukins; Male; Meibomian Glands; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Severity of Illness Index; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tears; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

To perform a comprehensive serum growth factor analysis in dry eye syndrome patients and to compare this with matched controls.. Six female dry eye syndrome patients and six age- and gender-matched controls were recruited. Whole blood was collected, allowed to clot and then centrifuged. Serum was extracted by using sterile technique. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were performed to quantify serum growth factor levels.. Levels of transforming growth factor-beta 1 and 2 (TGF-beta1 and beta2), nerve growth factor (NGF), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), epidermal growth factor (EGF), acidic and basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF), keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), platelet-derived growth factor-AA, AB and BB (PDGF-AA, AB and BB), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) were quantified, and statistical analysis was performed by using the Mann-Whitney U-test with the Bonferroni correction.. No significant difference was found between serum growth factor levels in dry eye syndrome patients versus controls. Our study provides comprehensive analysis of serum growth factor levels in autologous serum eye drops produced from ocular surface disease patients. A knowledge of growth factor levels in serum may be important because of the increasing use of autologous serum eye drops in refractory ocular surface diseases and for an understanding of how topical serum may provide benefit.

Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Becaplermin; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; Case-Control Studies; Dry Eye Syndromes; Epidermal Growth Factor; Female; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; Fibroblast Growth Factor 7; Hepatocyte Growth Factor; Humans; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Middle Aged; Nerve Growth Factor; Ophthalmic Solutions; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis; Transforming Growth Factor beta1; Transforming Growth Factor beta2; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

To investigate the efficacy of umbilical cord serum eyedrops for the treatment of severe dry eye syndrome.. Fifty-five eyes of 31 patients with severe dry eye syndrome were treated with umbilical cord serum eyedrops. Symptom scoring, tear film break-up time (BUT), Schirmer test, corneal sensitivity test, and corneal fluorescein staining were performed before and 1 and 2 months after treatment, and conjunctival impression cytology was performed before and 2 months after treatment. The concentrations of epidermal growth factor (EGF), vitamin A, and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) in umbilical cord serum and normal peripheral blood serum were measured.. Two months after treatment, significant improvement was observed in symptom score (from 3.07 +/- 0.54 to 0.96 +/- 0. 58), BUT (from 3.96 +/- 1.56 to 5.45 +/- 2.54 seconds), and keratoepitheliopathy score (from 4.87 +/- 3.22 to 1.71 +/- 1.84) (P < 0.01). There was no statistically significant change in Schirmer and corneal sensitivity tests. In impression cytology, the grade of squamous metaplasia (from 2.35 +/- 0.72 to 1.44 +/- 0.69) and goblet cell density (from 80.91 +/- 31.53 to 154.68 +/- 43.06 cell/mm) improved significantly (P < 0.01). The mean concentrations of EGF, TGF-beta, and vitamin A were 0.48 +/- 0.09, 57.14 +/- 18.98, and 230.85 +/- 13.39 ng/mL in umbilical cord serum and 0.14 +/- 0.03, 31.30 +/- 12.86, and 372.34 +/- 22.32 ng/mL in peripheral blood serum, respectively.. Umbilical cord serum contains essential tear components, and umbilical cord serum eyedrops are effective and safe for the treatment of severe dry eye syndrome.

Topics: Adult; Cornea; Dry Eye Syndromes; Epidermal Growth Factor; Female; Fetal Blood; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Ophthalmic Solutions; Pregnancy; Prospective Studies; Tears; Transforming Growth Factor beta; Vitamin A

To evaluate the efficacy of autologous serum application for the treatment of dry eye in Sjögren's syndrome.. The stability of essential components (EGF, vitamin A, and TGF-beta) in preserved serum were examined following preservation at 4 degrees C and -20 degrees C. In a primary clinical trial, 12 patients with Sjögren's syndrome were treated with autologous serum (diluted to 20% with sterile saline) for 4 weeks, and vital staining of the ocular surface was compared before and after treatment. The effects of serum on mucin (MUC-1) expression were observed in cultured conjunctival epithelial cells in vitro.. EGF, vitamin A, and TGF-beta were well preserved for up to 1 month in the refrigerator at 4 degrees C and up to 3 months in the freezer at -20 degrees C. Rose bengal and fluorescein scores improved significantly from the initial scores of 5.3 and 5.6 to 1.7 and 2.5 after 4 weeks, respectively. The additive effect of human serum for cultured conjunctival epithelial cells showed significant MUC-1 upregulation on the cell surface.. Autologous serum application is a safe and efficient way to provide essential components to the ocular surface in the treatment of dry eye associated with Sjögren's syndrome.

Topics: Blood; Dry Eye Syndromes; Epidermal Growth Factor; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mucin-1; Ophthalmic Solutions; Sjogren's Syndrome; Tears; Transforming Growth Factor beta; Vitamin A

To evaluate the efficacy of autologous serum application for the treatment of persistent epithelial defect.. Prospective, clinical, noncomparative case series.. A total of 16 eyes were studied.. Autologous serum was prepared from the patients and diluted to 20% by saline. The patients were instructed to use the autologous serum six to ten times a day. The concentration of vitamin A, epidermal growth factor (EGF), and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) was measured at 1 week and 1 month stored in the refrigerator and 1 month and 3 months in the freezer.. Time to closure of epithelial defect.. Vitamin A, EGF, and TGF-beta were stable during the 1 month in the refrigerator and 3 months in the freezer. Among 16 persistent epithelial defects, 7 (43.8%) healed within 2 weeks, 3 (18.8%) healed within 1 month, and the remaining 6 (37.5%) did not respond within 1 month. No apparent side effect of autologous serum application was observed.. Autologous serum application healed 43.8% of persistent defect within 2 weeks and 62.5% within 1 month.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Blood; Cell Movement; Corneal Diseases; Dry Eye Syndromes; Epidermal Growth Factor; Epithelium, Corneal; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Transforming Growth Factor beta; Vitamin A; Wound Healing