Goblet Cells In Group Research Articles

The Effects of 3% Diquafosol Sodium Eye Drops on Tear Function and the Ocular Surface of Cu, Zn-Superoxide Dismutase-1 (Sod1) Knockout Mice Treated with Antiglaucoma Eye Medications.

Anti-glaucoma eye drop treatment often induces dry eyes and can lead to poor medication adherence. This study aimed to investigate the effects of 3% diquafosol sodium eye drops on tear function and the ocular surface epithelium in Sod1−/− mice after treatment with anti-glaucoma eye drops. The mice were divided into four groups: group 1, control group; group 2, anti-glaucoma eye drop; group 3, anti-glaucoma eye drops followed by a secretagogue eye drop (3% diquafosol); and group 4, simultaneous anti-glaucoma and secretagogue eye drop. Mice underwent assessments of tear quantity, tear film breakup time, and vital staining score. Mice in groups 3 and 4 showed significantly better tear stability and lower corneal staining scores than mice in group 2 after eye drop instillations (p < 0.05). Mice in group 4 showed significantly better tear stability, lower corneal staining scores, and higher goblet cell densities than those in group 1 after eye drop instillations (p < 0.05). The conjunctival epithelium showed stratification and abundance of Muc5AC-positive goblet cells in group 4, whereas thinning with desquamation was observed with a few goblet cells in group 2. Thus, simultaneous administration of 3% diquafosol sodium eye drops with topical anti-glaucoma drops showed favorable effects on tear stability and the corneal epithelium against the ocular surface toxicity inflicted by the anti-glaucoma eye drops.

Effects of sIL-13Rα2 on the nasal mucosa goblet cell apoptosis of allergic rhinitis of rats

Objective: To investigate the effects of sIL-13Rα2 on the apoptosis of goblet cell in nasal mucosa of allergic rhinitis rats. Methods: Forty healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (10 rats per group): control group (group A), AR group (group B), sIL-13Rα2 group (group C) and triamcinolone acetonide group (group D). Ovalbumin (OVA) and aluminum hydroxide were used to establish the AR rat model. After the establishment of AR rat models, 50 μl PBS, 100 μg/50 μl IL-13Rα2 and 3.5 μg/50 μl triamcinolone acetonide were respectively dropped into each nasal cavity of every rat two times a week from 4 to 10 week in group B, group C and group D. Group A was operated with saline instead of OVA. The nasal mucosa tissues were collected at 24 h after the final administration. AB-PAS staining method was used to detect the quantity and secretion of goblet cells in the nasal mucosa tissue of all groups. Immunohistochemistry method was used to detect the expression of Bax proteins.Apoptosis was detected by TUNEL method.ANOVA analysis was used to compare multiple groups, and LSD-t test was used to compare the two groups.Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between the Bax positive cell rate of goblet cells and the rate of apoptotic cells. The difference was statistically significant with P<0.05. Results: Compared with group A, there were more goblet cells and hypersecretion of mucus in the nasal mucosa tissue of rats in group B while fewer in group C. The goblet cells in group C and group D were significantly fewer than that in group B (0.639 00±0.831 vs 0.956 7±0.980, 0.661 90±0.657 vs 0.956 7±0.980, t value was 2.748, 2.767, respectively, all P<0.05). The immunohistochemistry results showed that the positive expression rates of Bax protein in goblet cells of group C and group D were significantly higher than that in group B (0.880 2±0.125 vs 0.568 7±0.953, 0.938 4±0.200 vs 0.568 7±0.953, t value was -2.292, -2.685, respectively, all P<0.05). The apoptosis rates of goblet cell in nasal mucosa of group C and group D were also significantly higher than that in group B (0.516 0±0.079 vs 0.274 0±0.056, 0.535 4±0.829 vs 0.274 0±0.056, t value was -17.671, -2.225, respectively, all P<0.05). The expression of Bax protein and apoptosis of goblet cells were positively correlated (r=0.859, P<0.01). Conclusion: sIL-13Rα2 can induce apoptosis of the goblet cells in nasal mucosa of allergic rhinitis rats, by inhibiting IL-13 and up regulating Bax.

The effect of intranasal steroid on nasal mucosa in rat model of allergic rhinitis

To investigate the effects of intranasal steroid on nasal mucosa in rat model of allergic rhinitis (AR). Thirty-six SD rats were randomly divided into three groups (each included 12 rats): the intranasal steroid group(group A),the allergic rhinitis group(group B) and the normal control group(group C). AR model was reproduced by ovalbumin in group A and B. The control group was allergized by NS instead of ovalbumin. Group A was used steroid spray in nasal and Group B and C was used normal saline. Then ,after the last provocation,the allergic symptoms were evaluated,the number of eosinophil (EOS) of the rats' nasal mucosa was counted under hematoxylineosin staining and the goblet cells was counted under alcian blue-periodic acid-Schiff staining. The morphological changes of the rats' nasal mucosa were observed by scanning electron microscope. Compared with group B,the inhibition of nasal symptoms was found after used of steroid spray in group A. The EOS and the goblet cells in group A was significantly different with that in Group B (P < 0.05), but no significant differences compared with group C (P > 0.05). Observed by scanning electron microscope, the cilia of the epithelium in group B were significantly lodging, disoriented, winding and secreting,while the cilia of the epithelium in Group A and C had similar appearance. Intranasal steroid spray can relieve symptoms and inflammatory conditions of nasal mucosa in allergic rhinitis, and can repair injured nasal mucosa cilia.

Therapeutic effects of Pyranoprofen on the mouse dry eye induced by topical medication of Benzalkonium Chloride

Randomized controlled experimental study to investigate the therapeutic effect and the possible mechanism of Pranoprofen on the recovery of dry eye induced by topical medication of Benzalkonium Chloride (BAC) in mouse. It was an experimental study. Seventy BALB/c mice were treated with topical administration of 0.25% BAC to establish the dry eye condition. Based on the consistency of break-up time of tear-film (BUT), corneal fluorescein staining scores and inflammation index, the eyes were re-selected and randomly divided into four groups on day (D) 21 after the BAC treatment. Group A was set up as blank control, while group B, C and D were treated respectively with 0.1% sodium hyaluronate eye drops, 0.1% fluorometholone eye drops plus 0.1% sodium hyaluronate eye drops, 0.1% pyranoprofen eye drops plus 0.1% sodium hyaluronate eye drops. BUTs, tear volumes, corneal fluorescein staining scores and inflammation index were evaluated in each group on D0, 1, 3 and 5 after the therapeutic treatment. Global specimens were collected on D6. Sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) or by periodic acid-schiff (PAS) assay, and labeled with cytokeratin 10 (K10) antibody. The expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the cornea and conjunctiva was quantified by western blot. 72 eyes were included in the sequential experiment, 18 eyes for each group. On D0, 1 and 3, no clinical differences were observed among the groups. On D5, the BUT was (2.933 ± 0.320), (2.900 ± 0.280), (3.464 ± 0.498) and (3.643 ± 0.413) s in group A, B, C and D respectively; the BUTs in group C and D were significant longer than those of group A and B (F = 13.774, P = 0.000). The corneal fluorescein staining score was (11.640 ± 1.008), (11.790 ± 1.188), (10.330 ± 1.371) and (10.270 ± 1.104)s in group A, B, C and D respectively; the scores in group C and D were significant lower than those of group A and B (F = 6.145, P = 0.001). The corneal inflammatory index was (0.232 ± 0.059), (0.229 ± 0.078), (0.151 ± 0.055) and (0.154 ± 0.056) in group A, B, C and D respectively; the index in group C and D were significant lower than those of group A and B (F = 6.703, P = 0.001). No significant difference was found in tear volume among groups. No significant difference was found between Pyranoprofen and Fluorometholone treatment in BUT, corneal fluorescein score or inflammatory index. Corneal morphology showed the feature of thicker corneal epithelial layer in group A and uniformity in group C and D. PAS assay revealed similar goblet cell numbers in group C and D, but less goblet cells in group A and B. Cytokeratin 10 was almost negatively expressed in Pranoprofen or Fluorometholone treated groups, and remained positive in the corneal epithelium with other treatments. The level of TNF-α in the cornea was down-regulated in Pranoprofen or Fluorometholone treated groups. Pranoprofen or Fluorometholone combined with sodium hyaluronate treatment presented similar therapeutic effects on BAC-induced mouse dry eye, with the more stable tear film, the better regularity of epithelium recovery, the down-regulation of inflammatory TNF-α, the increased number of goblet cells, and the elimination of squamous metaplasia, when compared with the treatment of sodium hyaluronate eye drops only. Our results showed the great potentialities of Pranoprofen in the clinical treatment of ocular surface inflammation in the mild and severity dry eye.

Research on effects of vitamin A palmitate on repair of mechanical corneal epithelial defects and conjunctival goblet cells in rabbits

Randomized controlled experimental study to investigate the influence of vitamin A palmitate and bovine recombinant basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on repair of mechanical corneal epithelial defects, conjunctival epithelial cells and goblet cells in rabbits. One hundred and twenty New Zealand rabbits (all males) were selected to establish the mechanical corneal epithelial defects models (scratching out a round area with the diameter of 8 mm in the centre of cornea). Forty eight New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups: group A used lincomycin hydrochloride eye drops (LED) after the model had been established; group B used vitamin A palmitate eye gel and LED; group C used recombinant bFGF eye gel and LED; group D used vitamin A palmitate eye gel, bFGF eye gel and LED. Photo slit lamp examination and measurement of repaired area were performed on day 0, day 1, day 4 and day 7; transmission electron microscopy, histological microscope examination and impression cytology were performed on day 0, day 1, day 4 and day 7 to analysis the morphology and repairment of corneal epithelium, conjunctival epithelial cells and the goblet cells. The variants were tested using analysis of variance and Tukey's test. Statistic analysis showed that on day 1, the size of areas of repaired corneal epithelium was: group A(53.512 +/- 18.850) mm(2), group B (92.194 +/- 14.367) mm(2), group C (89.779 +/- 20.535) mm(2), group D (127.816 +/- 16.379) mm(2). The difference in size of repaired areas between different groups was statistically significant (F = 17.663, P = 0.000), with exception of the difference between groups B and C (P = 0.995). Conjunctival impression cytology showed that, the average number of conjunctival goblet cells per 740 microm x 550 microm at day 1 was decreased, group A (10.083 +/- 4.441), group B (10.667 +/- 3.551), group C (9.583 +/- 4.502), group D (9.167 +/- 5.606). The difference between these four groups was not significant (F = 0.239, P = 0.868). At day 4, the size of areas of repaired corneal epithelium was: group A (120.369 +/- 11.839) mm(2), group B (156.606 +/- 8.087) mm(2), group C (154.216 +/- 9.990) mm(2), group D (175.181 +/- 5.168) mm(2), which showed a significant difference between each two groups (F = 37.665, P = 0.000), with exception between groups B and C (P = 0.968). The average number of goblet cells at day 4 was recovered, which was: group A (41.250 +/- 4.575), group B (56.083 +/- 6.374), group C (48.417 +/- 4.562), group D (61.917 +/- 5.017), with a significant difference between these four groups (F = 36.210, P = 0.000). At day 7, the size of areas of repaired corneal epithelium had a statistical significance (F = 32.656, P = 0.000) between these four groups, which was group A (177.472 +/- 3.585) mm(2), group B (186.715 +/- 3.022) mm(2), group C (182.293 +/- 3.158) mm(2), group D (194.106 +/- 2.176) mm(2). The area of repaired corneal epithelium in group D was larger than that of other groups (P < 0.05). The average number of goblet cells was recovered significantly, which was: group A (63.167 +/- 11.488), group B (99.501 +/- 15.877), group C (82.015 +/- 9.175), group D (104.750 +/- 9.659). There was a significant difference in goblet cell number between these groups (F = 30.312, P = 0.000) with exception between groups B and D (P = 0.700). In transmission electron microscope examination of the cornea, we found that vitamin A palmitate and bFGF could both promote the development of intracellular conjunction. Vitamin A palmitate protected corneal epithelial cells, prevented cell keratinization, promoted proliferation and differentiation of corneal epithelial cells. In transmission electron microscopy examination of the conjunctiva, conjunctival goblet cells in groups B and D recovered well with rich secretary granules, which were quite different from groups A and C. Conjunctival epithelium of groups B, C and D were well-differentiated with tight intracellular conjunction. Vitamin A palmitate and bFGF could promote the repair of mechanical corneal epithelial defects and the development of intracellular conjunction. The effect is more significant when vitamin A palmitate is combined with bFGF. Vitamin A palmitate promotes regeneration of conjunctival goblet cells and can re-establish intracellular conjunction of conjunctival epithelium. The protective effect of vitamin A palmitate on conjunctival goblet cells is better than that of bFGF.