TY - JOUR
T1 - Adhesion of regenerating corneal epithelium. The role of basement membrane
AU - Khodadoust, Ali A.
AU - Silverstein, Arthur M.
AU - Kenyon, Kenneth R.
AU - Dowling, John E.
N1 - Funding Information:
The corneal epithelium, consisting of a layer five to six cells thick that rests on a basement membrane, provides the main protective barrier for the underlying cornea. For this protective barrier to maintain its integrity and thereby function efficiently, it must fulfill two important requirements: the maintenance of an unbroken layer of cells over the entire corneal surface, and the tight adhesion of this layer to Bowman's membrane in some species, or directly to the corneal stroma in others. When the corneal epithelium is subjected to physical or chemical injury, the wound-healing process is directed primarily toward reestablishing the continuity of the epithelial covering of the cornea, and only later toward developing tight adhesion to the underlying tissue. This study is primarily concerned with the latter aspect of corneal wound healing. To provide a proper context for the experiments reported here, we briefly review The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. These investigations were supported in part by USPHS Research Grants NB-03040 and NB-05336 from the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Blindness, by an unrestricted grant from the Alcon Laboratories, Inc., and by an Independent Order of Odd Fellows Research Professorship. * Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Fellow.
PY - 1968/3
Y1 - 1968/3
N2 - The healing of superficial corneal wounds has been shown to involve at least two principal processes: the renewal of an intact layer of epithelial cells over the defect, and the reestablishment of a tight adhesion between the new epithelium and the underlying tissue. When the cornea is mechanically scraped, the original basement membrane may survive intact and be reutilized by the new epithelium. In this instance, establishment of tight epithelial adhesion to the basement membrane appears to require several days. When both epithelium and basement membrane are removed, as in superficial keratectomy, formation of a new basement membrane by the regenerating epithelium, and its adhesion to the underlying stroma, may require many weeks. The significance of basement membrane defects in the process of corneal wound healing, and its possible implications in the pathogenesis of recurrent corneal erosion are discussed.
AB - The healing of superficial corneal wounds has been shown to involve at least two principal processes: the renewal of an intact layer of epithelial cells over the defect, and the reestablishment of a tight adhesion between the new epithelium and the underlying tissue. When the cornea is mechanically scraped, the original basement membrane may survive intact and be reutilized by the new epithelium. In this instance, establishment of tight epithelial adhesion to the basement membrane appears to require several days. When both epithelium and basement membrane are removed, as in superficial keratectomy, formation of a new basement membrane by the regenerating epithelium, and its adhesion to the underlying stroma, may require many weeks. The significance of basement membrane defects in the process of corneal wound healing, and its possible implications in the pathogenesis of recurrent corneal erosion are discussed.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/0014264688
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/0014264688#tab=citedBy
U2 - 10.1016/0002-9394(68)93082-1
DO - 10.1016/0002-9394(68)93082-1
M3 - Article
C2 - 5640539
AN - SCOPUS:0014264688
SN - 0002-9394
VL - 65
SP - 339
EP - 348
JO - American journal of ophthalmology
JF - American journal of ophthalmology
IS - 3
ER -