Urea transporter-B expression on the ocular surface and in the lacrimal glands
Jäger F, Paulsen F, Bergua A, Jungbauer R, Hammer C (2022)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2022
Journal
Book Volume: 243
Article Number: 151954
DOI: 10.1016/j.aanat.2022.151954
Abstract
Objective: Urea is a component of tear fluid showing a significantly decreased concentration in dry eye disease. The urea content of tear fluid may depend on urea transporters. The purpose of this study was to examine the expression of urea transporter B (UT-B) at the ocular surface and in the lacrimal glands. Methods: UT-B protein and mRNA expression was investigated in human, porcine, and murine samples. Immunohistochemical staining for UT-B was performed on paraffin sections of human, porcine, and murine corneas, eyelids, and lacrimal glands (n = 5 each). Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was conducted to detect UT-B mRNA in human and murine cornea, conjunctiva, Meibomian gland, and lacrimal gland (n = 5 each). Results: UT-B protein expression was comparable in all three species. It was found in the corneal epithelium and endothelium, in the conjunctival epithelium, in the end pieces and excretory ducts of the lacrimal gland, Meibomian gland, and in the glands of Moll and Zeis. The glands of Zeis and the Meibomian glands showed intense UT-B signals in the basal layers of the alveolar epithelia and in the cells of the ductal epithelia. UT-B mRNA was detected in all samples analyzed. Conclusion: UT-B is expressed by the cells and tissues of the ocular surface and in the lacrimal glands. Potential changes in urea transporter expression might have implications for the pathogenesis of dry eye disease. Since comparable results were obtained for all species investigated, the presented findings may open the door for DED-relevant experimentation on porcine and murine model systems.
Authors with CRIS profile
Franziska Jäger
Medizinische Fakultät
Friedrich Paulsen
Lehrstuhl für Funktionelle und Klinische Anatomie
Antonio Bergua
Medizinische Fakultät
Christian Hammer
Lehrstuhl für Funktionelle und Klinische Anatomie
Involved external institutions
Germany (DE)How to cite
APA:
Jäger, F., Paulsen, F., Bergua, A., Jungbauer, R., & Hammer, C. (2022). Urea transporter-B expression on the ocular surface and in the lacrimal glands. Annals of Anatomy-Anatomischer Anzeiger, 243. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aanat.2022.151954
MLA:
Jäger, Franziska, et al. "Urea transporter-B expression on the ocular surface and in the lacrimal glands." Annals of Anatomy-Anatomischer Anzeiger 243 (2022).
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