Absence of scar formation in human donor cornea with prior laser in situ keratomileusis.
PURPOSE: To investigate transglutaminases (enzymes capable of cross-linking extracellular matrix proteins to proteolysis-resistant complexes during scar tissue formation) in a human donor cornea after successful laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) without clinical complications and to compare with the results in a human donor cornea with corneal scarring after corneal injury. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany. METHODS: A donor cornea with prior uneventful LASIK treatment and 1 with corneal scarring after penetrating injury were investigated. Cryostat sections were stained immunohistochemically for tissue transglutaminase (tTG), keratocyte transglutaminase (kTG), and their reaction product epsilon-(gamma-glutamyl)-lysine. RESULTS: With light microscopy, the flap interface of the LASIK-treated eye could hardly be detected, while in the injured eye, infiltration of cells and a clear margin next to the scar formation were present. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated a distinct staining for tTG, kTG, and epsilon-(gamma-glutamyl)-lysine in the corneal scar. In contrast, neither transglutaminase nor epsilon-(gamma-glutamyl)-lysine staining could be observed at the flap margin or in the interface of the LASIK-treated donor eye. CONCLUSIONS: Irreversible protein cross-linking of transglutaminases via epsilon-(gamma-glutamyl)-lysine connections seem to be indicators for scarring in corneal wound healing. The absence of transglutaminases and their reaction product epsilon-(gamma-glutamyl)-lysine in a LASIK-treated cornea supports the idea of missing scar tissue formation after LASIK surgery.[1]References
- Absence of scar formation in human donor cornea with prior laser in situ keratomileusis. Priglinger, S.G., May, C.A., Alge, C.S., Wolf, A., Neubauer, A.S., Kampik, A., Welge-Luessen, U. Journal of cataract and refractive surgery. (2005) [Pubmed]
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