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Biomedical subjects

W F Treffers

Publications and source records attributed to W F Treffers.

21 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Corneal endothelium and growth factors.

Human corneal endothelium is characterized by a low regenerative capacity, mainly because of a low mitotic activity, and therefore complete regeneration of the endothelial layer after injury is precluded. A decrease in endothelial cell density and an abnormal cell mosaic, which may occur after many conditions, can compromise the integrity of the endothelial monolayer, resulting in corneal decompensation with reduced vision and eventual need for penetrating keratoplasty. It would be beneficial to have growth factors that can help to maintain or restore the integrity of this delicate endothelial monolayer by maintaining or increasing the endothelial cell density or to stimulate the regeneration during wound healing. Growth factors represent a group of signalling peptides which influence diverse cellular processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, migration and survival. One of the areas that has received great interest is its enhancement of wound healing. In this review the effects of three most effective growth factors (EGF, PDGF, FGF) on corneal endothelium, especially on wound healing in human corneal buttons, will be discussed.

Cell Count↗

Cytokines in aqueous humour and serum before and after corneal transplantation and during rejection.

Cytokine profiles in aqueous humour were studied in relation to corneal disease and subsequent corneal graft survival or rejection. Cytokine levels in samples obtained from eyes with clear grafts (n = 59) were all within the normal range. At the time of penetrating keratoplasty (n = 146), intraocular levels of IL-6 were increased in 38% (50/131), most markedly in eyes with previous allograft failure or herpetic stromal keratitis. The level of IL-10 was increased in 1 eye (n = 144) and of IL-4 and IFN-gamma in none. During rejection (n = 10), the levels of IL-6 in aqueous humour were increased in 75% (3/4), of IL-10 in 50% (3/6), of IL-4 in none (0/4) and of IFN-gamma in 40% (2/5). In conclusion, the levels of total protein and IL-6 were increased prior to penetrating keratoplasty in eyes with previous inflammation. These results could however not predict the final outcome of the graft. Increased intraocular levels of IL-6, IL-10 and IFN-gamma were observed during rejection.

Adult↗