UMLS:C0022568 - FACTA Search

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Query: UMLS:C0022568 (keratitis)
5,133 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) can undergo reactive hyperplasia and metaplasia following a variety of ocular insults. However, true neoplasms of the RPE are rare. We report a case of a papillary adenocarcinoma of the RPE arising in the blind staphylomatous right eye of a 79-year-old woman with a long history of bilateral posterior staphylomas who was seen with increasing pain and exophthalmos of the right eye. Findings from ultrasonography and computed tomography demonstrated linear calcification consistent with osseous metaplasia of the RPE. Progression of the exophthalmos and worsening exposure keratitis led to enucleation of the eye. Gross pathology showed a 79-mm-long globe. Histopathologic findings revealed a largely amelanotic papillary adenocarcinoma arising from the RPE. Positive immunoreactivity for cytokeratin supported the epithelial origin of the tumor. Adenocarcinoma of the RPE is rare but may develop in a blind eye.
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PMID:Presumed adenocarcinoma of the retinal pigment epithelium in a blind eye with a staphyloma. 956 54

The cytoskeleton, of which the main components in the human eye are actin microfilaments, intermediate filaments and microtubules with their associated proteins, is essential for the normal growth, maturation, differentiation, integrity and function of its cells. These components interact with intra- and extracellular environment and each other, and their profile frequently changes during development, according to physiologic demands, and in various diseases. The ocular cytoskeleton is unique in many ways. A special pair of cytokeratins, CK 3 and 12, has apparently evolved only for the purposes of the corneal epithelium. However, other cytokeratins such as CK 4, 5, 14, and 19 are also important for the normal ocular surface epithelia, and other types may be acquired in keratinizing diseases. The intraocular tissues, which have a relatively simple cytoskeleton consisting mainly of vimentin and simple epithelial CK 8 and 18, differ in many details from extraocular ones. The iris and lens epithelium characteristically lack cytokeratins in adults, and the intraocular muscles all have a cytoskeletal profile of their own. The dilator of the iris contains vimentin, desmin and cytokeratins, being an example of triple intermediate filament expression, but the ciliary muscle lacks cytokeratin and the sphincter of the iris is devoid even of vimentin. Conversion from extraocular-type cytoskeletal profile occurs during fetal life. It seems that posttranslational modification of cytokeratins in the eye may also differ from that of extraocular tissues. So far, it has not been possible to reconcile the cytoskeletal profile of intraocular tissues with their specific functional demands, but many theories have been put forward. Systematic search for cytoskeletal elements has also revealed novel cell populations in the human eye. These include transitional cells of the cornea that may represent stem cells on migration, myofibroblasts of the scleral spur and juxtacanalicular tissue that may modulate aqueous outflow, and subepithelial matrix cells of the ciliary body and myofibroblasts of the choroid that may both participate in accommodation. In contrast to the structure and development of the ocular cytoskeleton, changes that take place in ocular disease have not been analysed systematically. Nevertheless, potentially meaningful changes have already been observed in corneal dystrophies (Meesmann's dystrophy, posterior polymorphous dystrophy and iridocorneal endothelial syndrome), degenerations (pterygium) and inflammatory diseases (Pseudomonas keratitis), in opacification of the lens (anterior subcapsular and secondary cataract), in diseases characterized by proliferation of the retinal pigment epithelium (macular degeneration and proliferative vitreoretinopathy), and in intraocular tumours (uveal melanoma). In particular, upregulation of alpha-smooth muscle actin seems to be a relatively general response typical of spreading and migrating corneal stromal and lens epithelial cells, trabecular cells and retinal pigment epithelial cells.
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PMID:Structure, development and function of cytoskeletal elements in non-neuronal cells of the human eye. 969 98

Several mutant mice have been generated to model connexin (Cx)-linked skin diseases; however, the role of connexins in skin maintenance and during wound healing remains to be fully elucidated. Here we generated a novel, viable, and fertile mouse (Cx26^CK14-S17F/+) with the keratitis-ichthyosis-deafness mutant (Cx26S17F) driven by the cytokeratin 14 promoter. This mutant mouse mirrors several Cx26-linked human skin pathologies suggesting that the etiology of Cx26-linked skin disease indeed stems from epidermal expression of the Cx26 mutant. Cx26^CK14-S17F/+ foot pad epidermis formed severe palmoplantar keratoderma, which expressed elevated levels of Cx26 and filaggrin. Primary keratinocytes isolated from Cx26^CK14-S17F/+ neonates exhibited reduced gap junctional intercellular communication and migration. Furthermore, Cx26^CK14-S17F/+ mouse skin wound closure was normal but repaired epidermis appeared hyperplastic with elevated expression of cytokeratin 6. Taken together, we suggest that the Cx26S17F mutant disturbs keratinocyte differentiation and epidermal remodeling following wound closure. We further posit that Cx26 contributes to epidermal homeostasis by regulating keratinocyte differentiation, and that mice harboring a disease-linked Cx26 mutant display epidermal abnormalities yet retain most wound healing properties.
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PMID:Disease-linked connexin26 S17F promotes volar skin abnormalities and mild wound healing defects in mice. 2979 80