The Association Of Endothelial/Descemet's Membrane Complex Structure And Aqueous Humor Tgf-Β1 Level In Eyes With Pseudophakic Bullous Keratopathy And Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy
Published 2022 - 40th Congress of the ESCRS
Reference: PO508 | Type: Free paper | DOI: 10.82333/5tc2-bh41
Authors: Natalia Fisenko* 1 , Anastasia Subbot 1 , Grigory Osipyan 1
1Research Institute of Eye Diseases,Moscow,Russian Federation
Purpose
To evaluate the association between morphological changes of corneal endothelium/Descemet’ membrane (EDM) complexes and aqueous humor (AqH) TGF-β1 level in patients (pts) with pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (PBK) and Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD).
Setting
Research Institute of Eye Diseases, 11 A,B, Rossolimo St., 119021 Moscow, Russian Federation
Methods
The study included 12 pts (12 eyes) aged 68.1±12.6 yo with FECD and 8 pts (8 eyes), 72.5±10.6 yo, with PBK. AqH samples were collected from all pts during DMEK. The AqH TGF-β1 level was measured by TGF-β1 ELISA assay kit (Cloud-Cone Corp.). Recipients’ (8 of 12 pts with FECD, 3 of 8 pts with PBK) EDMs were obtained intraoperatively. EDMs of 7 hypothermic preserved human corneas from 7 donors (71.3±8.4 yo) were controls. All EDMs were stained with ZO-1 antibody, followed by Alexa Fluor 594 (both Thermo Fisher Scientific). Nuclei were counterstained by Hoechst 33342 (Thermo Fisher Scientific). Phase-contrast and fluorescence images were obtained with Zeiss Axio Vert A1. Nuclei parameters were analyzed (ImageJ software, GraphPad software).
Results
TGF-β1 level was elevated in FECD group compared to PBK (p<0.005). Both PBK and FECD specimens presented regions of enlarged corneal endothelial cells (CECs) with lower levels of ZO-1 protein expression. There was an increase in CEC nuclear areas in PBK and FECD specimens compared to controls (p<0.05). This index was on the average about 156 μm2 and 81 μm2 respectively, and 78 μm2 in control group. In PBK specimens significant CEC nuclear enlargement was detected. In FECD specimens CECs underwent fibroblastic transformation. The CEC nuclear aspect ratio was on the average significantly lower in FECD specimens compared to the controls: 0.66 and 0.92 respectively (p<0.05). In FECD group elongated CEC nuclei clustered around guttae.
Conclusions
FECD and PBK are the conditions associated with different structural changes of EDM complexes. TGF-β1 may play a pivotal role in extracellular matrix accumulation and guttae formation in FECD.