Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0314719 (dry eye)
 2,625 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The study of lacrimal dysfunction and insufficiency, a major cause of dry eye, has been hampered by the inability to induce the proliferation of primary lacrimal acinar cells in vitro. Particularly in light of observations that androgens are able to support the overall size and functional status of the lacrimal glands as well as certain specific lacrimal functions, an in vitro culture system that is permissive for cell proliferation would be most beneficial to study the molecular basis for these processes. Here, we report on the successful establishment of such a system. Using a culture system containing Hepato Stim Medium and Matrigel, we were able to induce the efficient proliferation of primary rabbit lacrimal gland acinar cells with epidermal growth factor (EGF) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The generation of this in vitro cell culture system should greatly facilitate study of the regulation of acinar cell function at the molecular and cellular levels.
 ...
PMID:Proliferation of lacrimal gland acinar cells in primary culture. Stimulation by extracellular matrix, EGF, and DHT. 1087 May 22

Numerous biologically active growth factors are secreted by the lacrimal gland and distributed via the tears over the ocular surface, where they affect cellular proliferation, migration, differentiation, and survival. The role of growth factors and their receptors in maintenance of tissue homeostasis and wound healing continues to be elucidated, and the effect of growth factor imbalances in ocular surface diseases is just beginning to be understood. For instance, in eyes with ocular surface diseases, including conjunctivitis, corneal erosion, keratitis, and corneal ulcers, epidermal growth factor release rates have been shown to be significantly lower than in normal eyes during reflex tearing. Future research into the mechanisms of dry eye disease will focus on reasons for decreased tear and growth factor production in the neuronal reflex loop or the acinar lacrimal gland cells. Animal models to test therapeutic approaches must be developed.
 ...
PMID:Growth factors in the tear film: role in tissue maintenance, wound healing, and ocular pathology. 1766 Aug 96

Conventional treatment of dry eye mainly consists of the use of preservative-free artificial eye drops and punctal occlusion. None of the commercially available artificial tear preparations include essential tear components such as epidermal growth factor, hepatocyte growth factor, fibronectin, neurotrophic growth factor, and vitamin A-all of which have been shown to play important roles in the maintenance of a healthy ocular surface epithelial milieu. We reported previously that autologous serum (AS) eye drops contain these essential factors and that AS eye drops are beneficial in the treatment of ocular surface diseases such as persistent epithelial defects, superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, and neurotrophic keratopathy. However, there is some controversy regarding the efficacy of AS treatment. We demonstrated that this modality is more effective than artificial tears in a randomized control study. In in vivo and in vitro experiments, AS eye drops showed marked suppression of apoptosis in the conjunctival and corneal epithelium. Albumin, the major protein in serum, improved ocular surface damage in vivo and rescued apoptosis after serum deprivation in vitro. The biological background of AS eye drops and previous clinical studies of these medications for the treatment of dry eye are discussed.
 ...
PMID:Autologous serum eye drops for the treatment of dry eye diseases. 1881 71

Corneal injury induces an inflammatory reaction and damages the sensory nerves that exert trophic influences in the corneal epithelium. Alterations in normal healing disrupt the integrity and function of the tissue with undesirable consequences, ranging from dry eye and loss of transparency to ulceration and perforation. Lipids play important roles in this complex process. Whereas lipid mediators such as platelet activating factor (PAF) and cyclooxygenease-2 metabolites contribute to tissue damage and neovascularization, other mediators, such as the lipoxygenase (LOX) derivatives from arachidonic acid, 12- and 15-hydroxy/hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acids, and lipoxin A4, act as second messengers for epidermal growth factor to promote proliferation and repair. Stimulation of the cornea with pigment epithelial derived factor in the presence of docosahexaenoic acid gives rise to the synthesis of neuroprotectin D1, a derivative of LOX activity, and increases regeneration of corneal nerves. More knowledge about the role that lipids play in corneal wound healing can provide insight into the development of new therapeutic approaches for treating corneal injuries. PAF antagonists, lipoxins, and neuroprotectins can be effective therapeutic tools for maintaining the integrity of the cornea.
 ...
PMID:Significance of lipid mediators in corneal injury and repair. 1996 7

Agonist and antagonist drugs acting on epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling are emerging as a new possibility for pharmaceutical study and clinical manipulation of some skin and corneal disorders. EGFR activation appears to be effective in reducing the time of reepithelialization after corneal wound healing, with potential uses in penetrating keratoplasty, refractive surgery, alkali burns, diabetic keratopathy, keratopathy following chemotherapy, cornea transplantation, and dry eye. Most of the studies show therapeutic advantages of human recombinant epidermal growth factor (hrEGF) eye drops without showing adverse effects. In contrast, EGFR inhibition delays epithelial cell proliferation and stratification during corneal regeneration.The aim of this review is to summarize the most seminal discoveries and recent advances so as to clarify the role of the EGFR system in corneal physiology and pharmacology. Epidermal growth factor eye drops could be a first-choice treatment for promoting regeneration in numerous epithelial defects in the medium to long term.
 ...
PMID:Epidermal growth factor receptor in corneal damage: update and new insights from recent reports. 2109 83

Sjogren's Syndrome (SS) is a chronic, female overwhelming fundamental issue of an immune system rheumatic sickness that influences the whole body. It is described by lymphocytic invasion of the exocrine viz. salivary and lacrimal glands and by surprising B-cell hyperactivity. Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eye) and Stomatitis sicca (oral dryness) are the primary visual appearances of SS. The primary SS is recognized from secondary SS which happens as a piece of other immune system maladies. The secondary SS exists together particularly with fundamental lupus erythematosus (15- 36%), rheumatoid joint inflammation (20- 32%) and also restricted and progressive systemic sclerosis (11- 24%), less as often as possible with different sclerosis and immune system hepatitis and thyreoiditis. We assess changes in salivary epidermal growth factor (EGF) intensity and estimate the relationship between salivary EGF levels and the seriousness of intraoral symptoms in SS individuals. The outcomes demonstrated that the salivary EGF levels diminished with the movement of SS, and this crumbling in salivation quality and additionally, hyposalivation could imagine a vital constituent in the pathogenesis of refractory intraoral indication in SS suffering patients. A strong relationship between particular alleles of the MHC and SS improvement has been recommended. The primary hereditary examination on SS revealed a relationship amongst SS and HLA-DR3 in SS population. Subsequent reports featured the relationship amongst SS and the HLA-D locus, with a diverse distribution between primary SS and secondary SS. The motivation behind this manuscript is to give a concise survey on the molecular mechanism, effects of infectious agents and genetic factors in the etiology of Sjogren's Syndrome. Such effects are discussed independently.
 ...
PMID:From Molecular Mechanism to the Etiology of Sjogren Syndrome. 3033 43