ALTERED EXPRESSION OF MATRIX METALLOPROTEASES AND THEIR TISSUE INHIBITORS AS POSSIBLE CONTRIBUTORS TO CORNEAL DROPLET FORMATION IN CLIMATIC DROPLET KERATOPATHY

HOLOPAINEN JM; SERRA HM; SANCHEZ MC,; SORSA T; ZALENTEIN WN; BARCELONA PF,; MOILANEN JAO; TERVAHARTIALA T; TERVO TMT; CAFARO TA; VIRTANEN I; URRETS-ZAVALIA EA; BHATTACHARYA SK; URRETS-ZAVALIA JA

ACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Año: 2009 p. 123 - 129

1755-375X

Purpose: Climatic droplet keratopathy (CDK) is an acquired corneal disease characterized by progressive scarring of the cornea.In several corneal diseases, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are upregulated during the degradation of epithelial andstromal tissues. We investigated the levels, degree of activation and molecular forms of MMP-2, MMP-9, MMP-8 andMMP-13 and their tissue inhibitors TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in tear fluid of patients with CDK.Methods: Seventeen CDK patients and 10 controls living in Argentine Patagonia received a complete eye examination, andMMPs and TIMP-1 ⁄ 2 were determined by immunofluorometric assay (IFMA), gelatin zymography and quantitative Westernimmunoblot analysis in tear samples.Results: The MMPs were detected mostly in their latent forms. The levels of MMP-9 and MMP-2 were found to be significantlyelevated in CDK patients, whereas latent and active MMP-8 levels were significantly enhanced in controls. There wasno significant difference in the level of MMP-13. TIMPs were found as part of complexes, and the TIMP-1 levels were significantlylower in patients than controls.Conclusion: Elevated MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels have been implicated in the failure of corneal re-epithelialization, andenhanced MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels in CDK patients suggest that these MMPs may play a role in corneal scarring in CDK.Elevated levels of MMP-8 suggest a defensive role for this MMP in inflammatory reactions associated with recurring cornealtraumas. Decreased expression of TIMP-1 in CDK patients suggest deficient antiproteolytic shield likely to render the corneasof CDK patients vulnerable to enhanced MMPs. Overall, these data suggest a mechanistic link between MMPs and TIMP-1level in cornea and tears with corneal scarring in CDK.