Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Keratocyte apoptosis associated with keratoconus.

W J Kim1, Y S Rabinowitz, D M Meisler

  • 1Department of Ophthalmology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Experimental Eye Research
|November 5, 1999
PubMed
Summary

Keratoconus is linked to increased keratocyte apoptosis, a cell death process, observed in 60% of affected corneas. This finding may explain the corneal thinning and disruption seen in this ectatic dystrophy.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Association of Propionibacterium acnes endophthalmitis with HLA-DQw5.

Ocular immunology and inflammation·2012
Same author

American Uveitis Society Meeting October 30, 1995 Marriott Marquis Hotel, Atlanta, GA, USA.

Ocular immunology and inflammation·2012
Same author

American uveitis society meeting october 31, 1994 san francisco, california.

Ocular immunology and inflammation·2012
Same author

Compression sutures in the management of corneal transplant wound infections.

Cornea·2001
Same author

Human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients with posterior intracorneal precipitates.

Ophthalmology·2001
Same author

Phacoemulsification cataract extraction and posterior chamber lens implantation in patients with uveitis.

American journal of ophthalmology·2001

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Cell Biology
  • Corneal Science

Background:

  • Keratoconus is an ectatic corneal dystrophy characterized by stromal thinning and Bowman's layer disruption.
  • The underlying mechanisms of keratoconus pathogenesis remain incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the potential association between keratocyte apoptosis and the development of keratoconus.
  • To compare apoptosis levels in keratoconus, other corneal dystrophies, and normal corneas.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the transferase-mediated dUTP-digoxigenin nick and labeling (TUNEL) assay to detect apoptotic cells (keratocyte apoptosis) in corneal tissues.
  • Employed transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to examine cellular morphology consistent with apoptosis in keratocytes.
  • Evaluated corneas from patients with keratoconus, stromal dystrophies, and healthy donors.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • TUNEL-stained keratocytes were identified in 60% of keratoconus corneas, significantly higher than in stromal dystrophies (35%) or normal corneas (0%).
  • Quantitative analysis revealed significantly more TUNEL-positive keratocytes in keratoconus corneas (7+/-1) compared to stromal dystrophy (2+/-0.8) and normal corneas (0+/-0).
  • TEM confirmed morphological evidence of apoptosis in keratocytes from keratoconus corneas, but not in normal corneas.

Conclusions:

  • Chronic keratocyte apoptosis is associated with keratoconus and may contribute to corneal thinning and structural damage.
  • This apoptosis could be linked to environmental risk factors like eye rubbing or contact lens wear, and potentially to increased degradative enzymes observed in keratoconus.