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Dry Eye and Ocular Surface Disorders

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2017) | Viewed by 81441

Special Issue Editor

1. Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-9057, USA
2. The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-9057, USA
Interests: analytical (bio)chemistry; biochemistry, physiology, and pathophysiology of the ocular surface; chemistry, biochemistry, and biophysics of lipids; chemistry, biochemistry, and biophysics of the tear film and meibum; drug discovery; enzymology; meibomian gland studies
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Dry eye disease (DE) is a persistent, wide-spread, multifactorial disease that severely impacts the quality of life of people by impairing their vision, progresses with aging, and disproportionately affects women. In DE patients, the tear film—a protective layer that that covers the entire ocular surface – deteriorates and becomes unstable, losing its protective properties. There is evidence that DE is related to morphological changes in Meibomian glands (MG) and the chemical composition of MG secretions. Other known, highly relevant factors are the protein content of aqueous tears and their salinity. A delicate balance of all the components of the tear film is critical for maintaining a healthy ocular surface, and is altered in DE patients. This Special Issue of IJMS is seeking articles that would provide new insights into the underlying mechanisms of the onset of DE, the biochemistry and biophysics of the normal and DE tear film, new approaches to modelling and studying the condition, and new therapies and treatments for DE that would be able to alleviate or cure the disease.

Igor A. Butovich
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • Dry Eye
  • Meibomian Gland
  • Lacrimal Gland
  • Cornea
  • Conjunctiva
  • Lipids and Lipidomics
  • Proteins and Proteomics
  • Meibum
  • Tear Film

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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1500 KiB  
Article
Human Meibum Age, Lipid–Lipid Interactions and Lipid Saturation in Meibum from Infants
by Samiyyah Sledge, Collin Henry, Douglas Borchman, Marta C. Yappert, Rahul Bhola, Aparna Ramasubramanian, Ryan Blackburn, Jonathan Austin, Kayla Massey, Shanzeh Sayied, Aliza Williams, Georgi Georgiev and Kenneth N. Schikler
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017, 18(9), 1862; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18091862 - 28 Aug 2017
Cited by 32 | Viewed by 4250
Abstract
Tear stability decreases with increasing age and the same signs of instability are exacerbated with dry eye. Meibum lipid compositional changes with age provide insights into the biomolecules responsible for tear film instability. Meibum was collected from 69 normal donors ranging in age [...] Read more.
Tear stability decreases with increasing age and the same signs of instability are exacerbated with dry eye. Meibum lipid compositional changes with age provide insights into the biomolecules responsible for tear film instability. Meibum was collected from 69 normal donors ranging in age from 0.6 to 68 years of age. Infrared spectroscopy was used to measure meibum lipid phase transition parameters. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to measure lipid saturation. Increasing human meibum lipid hydrocarbon chain unsaturation with age was related to a decrease in hydrocarbon chain order, cooperativity, and in the phase transition temperature. The change in these parameters was most dramatic between 1 and 20 years of age. Meibum was catalytically saturated to determine the effect of saturation on meibum lipid phase transition parameters. Hydrocarbon chain saturation was directly related to lipid order, phase transition temperature, cooperativity, changes in enthalpy and entropy, and could account for the changes in the lipid phase transition parameters observed with age. Unsaturation could contribute to decreased tear film stability with age. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dry Eye and Ocular Surface Disorders)
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4739 KiB  
Article
Herbal Supplement in a Buffer for Dry Eye Syndrome Treatment
by Hung-Chang Chen, Zhi-Yu Chen, Tsung-Jen Wang, Victor J. Drew, Ching-Li Tseng, Hsu-Wei Fang and Feng-Huei Lin
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017, 18(8), 1697; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18081697 - 03 Aug 2017
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 6517
Abstract
Dry eye syndrome (DES) is one of the most common types of ocular diseases. There is a major need to treat DES in a simple yet efficient way. Artificial tears (AT) are the most commonly used agents for treating DES, but are not [...] Read more.
Dry eye syndrome (DES) is one of the most common types of ocular diseases. There is a major need to treat DES in a simple yet efficient way. Artificial tears (AT) are the most commonly used agents for treating DES, but are not very effective. Herbal extractions of ferulic acid (FA), an anti-oxidant agent, and kaempferol (KM), an anti-inflammatory reagent, were added to buffer solution (BS) to replace ATs for DES treatment. The cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory effects were examined in vitro by co-culture with human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) to obtain the optimal concentration of KM and FA for treating HCECs. Physical properties of BS, such as pH value, osmolality, and refractive index were also examined. Then, rabbits with DES were used for therapeutic evaluation. Tear production, corneal damage, and ocular irritation in rabbits’ eyes were examined. The non-toxic concentrations of KM and FA for HCEC cultivation over 3 days were 1 µM and 100 µM, respectively. Live/dead stain results also show non-toxicity of KM and FA for treating HCECs. Lipopolysaccharide-stimulated HCECs in inflammatory conditions treated with 100 µM FA and 1 µM KM (FA100/KM1) showed lower IL-1B, IL-6, IL-8, and TNFα expression when examined by real-time PCR. The BS with FA100/KM1 had neutral pH, and a similar osmolality and refractive index to human tears. Topical delivery of BS + FA100/KM1 showed no irritation to rabbit eyes. The corneal thickness in the BS + FA100/KM1 treated group was comparable to normal eyes. Results of DES rabbits treated with BS + FA100/KM1 showed less corneal epithelial damage and higher tear volume than the normal group. In conclusion, we showed that the combination of FA (100 µM) and KM (1 µM) towards treating inflamed HCECs had an anti-inflammatory effect, and it is effective in treating DES rabbits when BS is added in combination with these two herbal supplements and used as a topical eye drop. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dry Eye and Ocular Surface Disorders)
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4613 KiB  
Article
Surface Chemistry Interactions of Cationorm with Films by Human Meibum and Tear Film Compounds
by Georgi As. Georgiev, Norihiko Yokoi, Yana Nencheva, Nikola Peev and Philippe Daull
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017, 18(7), 1558; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18071558 - 18 Jul 2017
Cited by 26 | Viewed by 8120
Abstract
Cationorm® (CN) cationic nanoemulsion was demonstrated to enhance tear film (TF) stability in vivo possibly via effects on tear film lipid layer (TFLL). Therefore the interactions of CN with human meibum (MGS) and TFLL in vitro and in vivo deserve special study. [...] Read more.
Cationorm® (CN) cationic nanoemulsion was demonstrated to enhance tear film (TF) stability in vivo possibly via effects on tear film lipid layer (TFLL). Therefore the interactions of CN with human meibum (MGS) and TFLL in vitro and in vivo deserve special study. MGS and CN were spread at the air/water interface of a Langmuir surface balance to ensure a range of MGS/CN oil phase ratios: 20/1, 10/1, 5/1, 3/1, 2/1 and 1/1. The films capability to reorganize during dynamic area changes was evaluated via the surface pressure-area compression isotherms and step/relaxation dilatational rheology studies. Films structure was monitored with Brewster angle microscopy. CN/TFLL interactions at the ocular surface were monitored with non-contact specular microscopy. The in vitro studies of MGS/CN layers showed that (i) CN inclusion (at fixed MGS content) increased film elasticity and thickness and that (ii) CN can compensate for moderate meibum deficiency in MGS/CN films. In vivo CN mixed with TFLL in a manner similar to CN/MGS interactions in vitro, and resulted in enhanced thickness of TFLL. In vitro and in vivo data complement each other and facilitated the study of the composition-structure-function relationship that determines the impact of cationic nanoemulsions on TF. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dry Eye and Ocular Surface Disorders)
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984 KiB  
Article
Tear Film Steroid Profiling in Dry Eye Disease by Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry
by Damiana Pieragostino, Luca Agnifili, Ilaria Cicalini, Roberta Calienno, Mirco Zucchelli, Leonardo Mastropasqua, Paolo Sacchetta, Piero Del Boccio and Claudia Rossi
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017, 18(7), 1349; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18071349 - 24 Jun 2017
Cited by 39 | Viewed by 5949
Abstract
Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial disorder of the ocular surface unit resulting in eye discomfort, visual disturbance, and ocular surface damage; the risk of DED increases with age in both sexes, while its incidence is higher among females caused by an [...] Read more.
Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial disorder of the ocular surface unit resulting in eye discomfort, visual disturbance, and ocular surface damage; the risk of DED increases with age in both sexes, while its incidence is higher among females caused by an overall hormonal imbalance. The role of androgens has recently investigated and these hormones were considered to have a protective function on the ocular surface. In order to correlate DED to tear steroid levels, a robust, specific, and selective method for the simultaneous quantification of cortisol (CORT), corticosterone (CCONE), 11-deoxycortisol (11-DECOL), 4-androstene-3,17-dione (ADIONE), testosterone (TESTO), 17α-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), and progesterone (PROG) was developed and applied for the analysis of tear samples. The method involves a simple extraction procedure of steroids from tears collected on Schirmer strips, followed by a high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) analysis. In total, tear samples from 14 DED female patients and 13 healthy female controls were analysed and, CORT, ADIONE, and 17-OHP response levels resulted significantly decreased in dry eye patients respect to controls. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve obtained by the combination of these three steroids (AUC = 0.964) demonstrated the good diagnostic power of the differential tear steroids in identifying DED. In conclusion, the present method made it possible, for the first time, to study steroid profiling directly in tear fluid. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dry Eye and Ocular Surface Disorders)
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5183 KiB  
Article
Pathological Analysis of Ocular Lesions in a Murine Model of Sjögren’s Syndrome
by Aya Ushio, Rieko Arakaki, Hiroshi Eguchi, Fumika Hotta, Akiko Yamada, Yasusei Kudo and Naozumi Ishimaru
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017, 18(6), 1209; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18061209 - 06 Jun 2017
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 5634
Abstract
Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by severe inflammation of exocrine glands such as the salivary and lacrimal glands. When it affects the lacrimal glands, many patients experience keratoconjunctivitis due to severely dry eyes. This study investigated the pathological and [...] Read more.
Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by severe inflammation of exocrine glands such as the salivary and lacrimal glands. When it affects the lacrimal glands, many patients experience keratoconjunctivitis due to severely dry eyes. This study investigated the pathological and immunological characteristics of ocular lesions in a mouse model of SS. Corneal epithelial injury and hyperplasia were confirmed pathologically. The number of conjunctival mucin-producing goblet cells was significantly decreased in the SS model mice compared with control mice. Expression levels of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and C-X-C motif chemokine (CXCL) 12 were significantly higher in the corneal epithelium of the SS model mice than in control mice. Inflammatory lesions were observed in the Harderian, intraorbital, and extraorbital lacrimal glands in the SS model mice, suggesting that the ocular glands were targeted by an autoimmune response. The lacrimal glands of the SS model mice were infiltrated by cluster of differentiation (CD)4+ T cells. Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) revealed significantly increased mRNA expression of TNF-α, TGF-β, CXCL9, and lysozyme in the extraorbital lacrimal glands of the SS model mice compared with control mice. These results add to the understanding of the complex pathogenesis of SS and may facilitate development of new therapeutic strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dry Eye and Ocular Surface Disorders)
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4292 KiB  
Article
Goblet Cells Contribute to Ocular Surface Immune Tolerance—Implications for Dry Eye Disease
by Flavia L. Barbosa, Yangyan Xiao, Fang Bian, Terry G. Coursey, Byung Yi Ko, Hans Clevers, Cintia S. De Paiva and Stephen C. Pflugfelder
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017, 18(5), 978; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18050978 - 05 May 2017
Cited by 71 | Viewed by 6720
Abstract
Conjunctival goblet cell (GC) loss in dry eye is associated with ocular surface inflammation. This study investigated if conjunctival GCs contribute to ocular surface immune tolerance. Antigens applied to the ocular surface, imaged by confocal microscopy, passed into the conjunctival stroma through goblet [...] Read more.
Conjunctival goblet cell (GC) loss in dry eye is associated with ocular surface inflammation. This study investigated if conjunctival GCs contribute to ocular surface immune tolerance. Antigens applied to the ocular surface, imaged by confocal microscopy, passed into the conjunctival stroma through goblet cell associated passages (GAPs) in wild type C57BL/6 (WT), while ovalbumin (OVA) was retained in the epithelium of SAM pointed domain containing ETS transcription factor (Spdef) knockout mice (Spdef/) that lack GCs and are a novel model of dry eye. Stimulated GC degranulation increased antigen binding to GC mucins. Induction of tolerance to topically applied OVA measured by cutaneous delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) was observed in WT, but not Spdef/. OTII CD4+ T cells primed by dendritic cells (DCs) from the conjunctival draining lymph nodes of Spdef/ had greater IFN-γ production and lower Foxp3 positivity than those primed by WT DCs. These findings indicate that conjunctival GCs contribute to ocular surface immune tolerance by modulating antigen distribution and antigen specific immune response. GC loss may contribute to the abrogation of ocular surface immune tolerance that is observed in dry eye. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dry Eye and Ocular Surface Disorders)
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1613 KiB  
Article
A Comparison of the Effects of Benzalkonium Chloride on Ocular Surfaces between C57BL/6 and BALB/c Mice
by Qian Yang, Yafang Zhang, Xiuping Liu, Nan Wang, Zhenyu Song and Kaili Wu
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017, 18(3), 509; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18030509 - 26 Feb 2017
Cited by 36 | Viewed by 8320
Abstract
Models of benzalkonium chloride (BAC)-induced ocular disruption have been created and are widely used in various animals. This study aimed to compare the effects of BAC on the ocular surfaces of C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice. C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice were treated separately with [...] Read more.
Models of benzalkonium chloride (BAC)-induced ocular disruption have been created and are widely used in various animals. This study aimed to compare the effects of BAC on the ocular surfaces of C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice. C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice were treated separately with BAC eye-drops at different concentrations. Eyes were evaluated by scoring epithelial disruption, corneal opacity and neovascularization in vivo, and by histological assays with hematoxylin/eosin (H/E) and periodic acid-Schiff stainings and by determining the expression of inflammatory factors in vitro on Days 7 and 14. The in vivo corneal epithelial disruption, corneal edema/opacity and neovascularization, which were in accordance with the results of the H/E staining and peaked at Day 7, were observed in a dose-dependent manner in the BAC-treated mice, with more severe signs in the C57BL/6 mice than the BALB/c mice. The loss of conjunctival goblet cells in the conjunctivas and the increasing expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), growth-regulated protein alpha (GROa) and macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha (MIP-1a) in the corneas were found in a dose-dependent manner in both strains of mice. Topical application of BAC can dramatically disrupt the ocular surfaces of C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice, and the disruptions were much more severe in the C57BL/6 mice that received high doses of BAC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dry Eye and Ocular Surface Disorders)
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Review

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1535 KiB  
Review
Regenerative Therapies in Dry Eye Disease: From Growth Factors to Cell Therapy
by Antonio J. Villatoro, Viviana Fernández, Silvia Claros, Cristina Alcoholado, Manuel Cifuentes, Jesús Merayo-Lloves, José A. Andrades and José Becerra
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017, 18(11), 2264; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18112264 - 28 Oct 2017
Cited by 33 | Viewed by 9340
Abstract
Dry eye syndrome is a complex and insidious pathology with a high level of prevalence among the human population and with a consequently high impact on quality of life and economic cost. Currently, its treatment is symptomatic, mainly based on the control of [...] Read more.
Dry eye syndrome is a complex and insidious pathology with a high level of prevalence among the human population and with a consequently high impact on quality of life and economic cost. Currently, its treatment is symptomatic, mainly based on the control of lubrication and inflammation, with significant limitations. Therefore, the latest research is focused on the development of new biological strategies, with the aim of regenerating affected tissues, or at least restricting the progression of the disease, reducing scar tissue, and maintaining corneal transparency. Therapies range from growth factors and cytokines to the use of different cell sources, in particular mesenchymal stem cells, due to their multipotentiality, trophic, and immunomodulatory properties. We will review the state of the art and the latest advances and results of these promising treatments in this pathology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dry Eye and Ocular Surface Disorders)
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1262 KiB  
Review
Analysis of the Pathogenic Factors and Management of Dry Eye in Ocular Surface Disorders
by Marcella Nebbioso, Paola Del Regno, Magda Gharbiya, Marta Sacchetti, Rocco Plateroti and Alessandro Lambiase
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017, 18(8), 1764; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18081764 - 13 Aug 2017
Cited by 34 | Viewed by 10028
Abstract
The tear film represents the interface between the eye and the environment. The alteration of the delicate balance that regulates the secretion and distribution of the tear film determines the dry eye (DE) syndrome. Despite having a multifactorial origin, the main risk factors [...] Read more.
The tear film represents the interface between the eye and the environment. The alteration of the delicate balance that regulates the secretion and distribution of the tear film determines the dry eye (DE) syndrome. Despite having a multifactorial origin, the main risk factors are female gender and advanced age. Likewise, morphological changes in several glands and in the chemical composition of their secretions, such as proteins, mucins, lipidics, aqueous tears, and salinity, are highly relevant factors that maintain a steady ocular surface. Another key factor of recurrence and onset of the disease is the presence of local and/or systemic inflammation that involves the ocular surface. DE syndrome is one of the most commonly encountered diseases in clinical practice, and many other causes related to daily life and the increase in average life expectancy will contribute to its onset. This review will consider the disorders of the ocular surface that give rise to such a widespread pathology. At the end, the most recent therapeutic options for the management of DE will be briefly discussed according to the specific underlying pathology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dry Eye and Ocular Surface Disorders)
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3301 KiB  
Review
Dry Eye Management: Targeting the Ocular Surface Microenvironment
by Xiaobo Zhang, Vimalin Jeyalatha M, Yangluowa Qu, Xin He, Shangkun Ou, Jinghua Bu, Changkai Jia, Junqi Wang, Han Wu, Zuguo Liu and Wei Li
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017, 18(7), 1398; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18071398 - 29 Jun 2017
Cited by 152 | Viewed by 15531
Abstract
Dry eye can damage the ocular surface and result in mild corneal epithelial defect to blinding corneal pannus formation and squamous metaplasia. Significant progress in the treatment of dry eye has been made in the last two decades; progressing from lubricating and hydrating [...] Read more.
Dry eye can damage the ocular surface and result in mild corneal epithelial defect to blinding corneal pannus formation and squamous metaplasia. Significant progress in the treatment of dry eye has been made in the last two decades; progressing from lubricating and hydrating the ocular surface with artificial tear to stimulating tear secretion; anti-inflammation and immune regulation. With the increase in knowledge regarding the pathophysiology of dry eye, we propose in this review the concept of ocular surface microenvironment. Various components of the microenvironment contribute to the homeostasis of ocular surface. Compromise in one or more components can result in homeostasis disruption of ocular surface leading to dry eye disease. Complete evaluation of the microenvironment component changes in dry eye patients will not only lead to appropriate diagnosis, but also guide in timely and effective clinical management. Successful treatment of dry eye should be aimed to restore the homeostasis of the ocular surface microenvironment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dry Eye and Ocular Surface Disorders)
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