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Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Effect of Artificial Tear Formulations on the Metabolic Activity of Human Corneal Epithelial Cells after Exposure to Desiccation
Published on: May 2, 2020
[Comparative study of the effect of different cryoprotectants on desmoglein 1 in human skin]
Xiaoming Jia1, Dongjie Li, Caihong Ma
1Burns Institute, the First Affiliated Hospital, General Hospital of PLA, Beijing, 100048, PR China. jxm304@126.com
Objective:
To compare the effects of two different cryoprotectants on human desmoglein 1 (Dsg 1), and to provide experimental basis for the optimization of cryoprotectant.
Methods:
Five donated thin split-thickness skin grafts were used, and the experiment was conducted within 4 hours after skin grafts harvest. The skin grafts were divided into 3 groups: group A (n = 2) in which skin grafts were immersed in 0.5 mol/L trehalose/DMSO; group B (n = 2) in which skin grafts were immersed in DMSO/propanediol; group C (n = 1) in which fresh skin graft received no further treatment. Groups A and B were stored in -196 degree C liquid nitrogen for 7 and 21 days, respectively, and then underwent experiment. Immunohistochemistry staining observation was performed on each group, RT-PCR method was used to detect the expression of Dsg 1 in skin.
Results:
The immunohistochemistry staining showed that the protein in groups A and B was stained brown-yellow and distributed evenly 7 days after cryopreservation; the expression signal of epidermal basal cell was similar to that of group C; absorbance (A) value of groups A, B and C was 0.285 +/- 0.006, 0.284 +/- 0.004 and 0.287 +/- 0.008, respectively, suggesting there was no significant difference between groups A and B and group C (P > 0.05). At 21 days after cryopreservation, the expression of positive cells in group B decreased; no obvious decrease was observed in group A, A value of groups A and B was 0.282 +/- 0.004 and 0.275 +/- 0.005, respectively, indicating there was a significant difference between group B and groups A and C (P < 0.05). RT-PCR detection showed that A value of groups A and B at 7 days after cryopreservation was 0.810 +/- 0.012 and 0.803 +/- 0.008, respectively; A value of groups A and B at 21 days after cryopreservation was 0.806 +/- 0.008 and 0.782 +/- 0.013, respectively; and the A value of group C was 0.814 +/- 0.012, indicating there was significant difference between group B and groups A and C at 21 days after cryopreservation (p < 0.05), and no significant differences among groups were noted at other time points (P > 0.05).
Conclusion:
Trehalose/DMSO is better than traditional cryoprotectant DMSO/propanediol in protecting Dsg 1 of human skin.
