Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2026
07:51
Full-Field Optical Coherence Microscopy for Histology-Like Analysis of Stromal Features in Corneal Grafts
Published on: October 21, 2022
Compositional differences between infant and adult human corneal basement membranes
Andrea Kabosova1, Dimitri T Azar, Gregory A Bannikov
1Ophthalmology Research Laboratories, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA.
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science
|October 27, 2007
Summary
Corneal basement membranes undergo significant changes during postnatal development, impacting mechanical strength and cell adhesion. These findings offer new insights into corneal maturation and stem cell niches.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Developmental Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- The distribution of basement membrane (BM) components in adult human corneas is heterogeneous.
- Understanding postnatal corneal development is crucial for comprehending changes in corneal structure and function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the dynamic changes in epithelial basement membrane (EBM) and Descemet's membrane (DM) components during postnatal corneal development.
- To identify key molecular alterations in corneal BMs from infancy to adulthood.
Main Methods:
- Immunofluorescence analysis of corneal tissues from infants (12 days to 3 years) and adults.
- Antibodies targeting various basement membrane components were utilized to map their distribution.
Main Results:
- Type IV collagen composition in the central EBM shifted post-3 years, with adult limbal BM retaining specific chains.
- Laminin chain distribution varied, with beta2 appearing in limbal BM by age 3 and gamma3 present in all limbal BMs.
- DM composition changed significantly, with certain proteins localizing to the endothelial face in adults and others present on the stromal face in infants.
Conclusions:
- The study describes novel distributions of laminin gamma3, nidogen-2, netrin-4, matrilin-2, and matrilin-4 in the cornea.
- Observed BM component differences correlate with postnatal corneal maturation, potentially influencing mechanical properties, cell adhesion, and differentiation.
Related Concept Videos
01:03Basal Lamina are the Specialized Form of ECM
The basal lamina is a thin extracellular layer that lies underneath the cells and separates them from other tissues. The three layers of the basal lamina are lamina lucida, lamina densa and lamina reticularis. The basal lamina, a mixture of glycoproteins and collagen, provides an attachment site for the epithelium, separating it from underlying connective tissue. The framework of basal lamina has other essential proteins such as laminins mesh, perlecan, entactin, and type IV collagen.
Proteins...
Proteins...
01:22Microbiome of the Eye
The human eye has a specialized microbiota that reflects its unique anatomical and immunological environment. This low-biomass microbial community predominantly colonizes the conjunctiva and eyelid margins, playing a vital role in ocular surface homeostasis and defense. Despite its proximity to the richly colonized facial skin, the ocular surface maintains a distinct microbial profile due to continuous mechanical and biochemical defense mechanisms.The conjunctival surface hosts fewer microbial...
01:18Membrane Domains
The membrane domains concentrate specific lipids and proteins at one place within the membrane, which helps in cell signaling, adhesion, and other critical cellular processes. These domains can differ in size, composition, function, and lifespan.
Protein Domains
The membrane comprises a group of distinct proteins responsible for carrying out a cell's specific function. For example, the plasma membrane of the human sperm, or a single germ cell, contains a unique set of proteins in the anterior...
Protein Domains
The membrane comprises a group of distinct proteins responsible for carrying out a cell's specific function. For example, the plasma membrane of the human sperm, or a single germ cell, contains a unique set of proteins in the anterior...