This study involved CEC specimens obtained from 10 eyes of 10 consecutive patients (three males and seven females; mean age: 74.5 years, range: 68-90 years) with BK who underwent Descemet\'s stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty at Baptist Eye Institute, Kyoto, Japan between August 2019 and September 2020. Three corneal buttons obtained from 3 patients who underwent penetrating keratoplasty for keratoconus were used as \'non-BK\' controls. All specimens were evaluated with immunofluorescence staining using an antibody against acetylated α-tubulin.
Ciliary expression was observed in six of the 10 CEC specimens; i.e. in two specimens obtained from BK patients after glaucoma surgery (trabeculectomy), in two specimens obtained from patients with Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy, and in two specimens obtained from a patient with BK after laser iridotomy for primary angle closure. There was acetylated α-tubulin staining but no hair-like structures in two specimens, and ciliary expression was unknown in two specimens due to the absence of cells. The length of the primary cilia varied between all specimens. In contrast, no primary cilia were observed in the corneal buttons obtained from the three keratoconus patients.
The findings in this study clearly demonstrate the expression of primary cilia in the CECs of patients afflicted with BK.
■这项研究涉及从10例连续患者的10只眼(3例男性和7例女性;平均年龄:74.5岁,范围:68-90岁)在浸信会眼科研究所接受Descemet剥离自动内皮角膜移植术的BK,京都,2019年8月至2020年9月期间的日本。从3例接受圆锥角膜穿透性角膜移植术的患者中获得的三个角膜纽扣用作“非BK”对照。使用针对乙酰化α-微管蛋白的抗体,通过免疫荧光染色评估所有标本。
■在10个CEC标本中的6个中观察到纤毛表达;即从青光眼手术(小梁切除术)后的BK患者获得的2个标本,在从Fuchs内皮角膜营养不良患者获得的2个标本中,以及在激光虹膜切开术后从BK患者获得的2个标本中进行原发性闭角。2个标本有乙酰化α-微管蛋白染色,但无毛发样结构,由于没有细胞,2个标本中的纤毛表达未知。初级纤毛的长度在所有标本之间都不同。相比之下,在3例圆锥角膜患者的角膜纽扣中未观察到原发性纤毛。
■这项研究的发现清楚地证明了原发性纤毛在患有BK的患者的CEC中的表达。