背景:与干眼症的眼表疾病并行,通常存在泪腺器官的功能障碍。泪腺的功能对于维持眼表完整性和健康至关重要。即使在增强刺激和分泌要求的条件下。这种增强的分泌需求可以将泪腺推向极限,最大的泪液分泌和增加通过泪管的流量。这项研究的目的是研究G蛋白偶联受体GPR-68是否存在于泪腺中,因为这种蛋白质最近被证明对流速和渗透压敏感。
方法:为此,使用免疫组织化学将人泪腺组织的去识别切片用特异性抗体染色以检测G蛋白偶联受体68的存在。
结果:在人泪腺腺泡和导管中检测到特异性染色。在管道里,在导管内腔周围发现了特异性染色。在acini中,特异性染色更多地朝向管腔,但也在腺泡细胞之间观察到。
结论:泪腺G蛋白偶联受体GPR-68的检测,尤其是在导管的内腔周围,提出了关于它的功能和目的的问题。GPR68的激活导致各种细胞功能的修饰,并且与炎症的调节相关。因此,增强,分泌诱导,流量的增加可能会对导管和腺泡施加流体流动应力。这可能会导致短暂的,GPR-68的局部激活和腺体内的继发性炎症。根据强度,刺激的连续性或重复性,随后可能会耗尽泪腺分泌能力,和慢性炎症的实质以及周围的导管可能是一个结果。
结论:G蛋白偶联受体GPR-68,对血流敏感,存在于人类泪腺中。流量增加,由干眼症典型的感觉引发,可能导致局部炎症。这些感觉可能比干眼症的临床体征更好地指示治疗的需要和成功。至少在疾病的早期阶段。
BACKGROUND: In parallel to ocular surface disease in dry eye there is often a dysfunctionality of the lacrimal gland apparatus. The functionality of the lacrimal gland is of major importance for maintenance of ocular surface integrity and health, even in conditions of enhanced stimulation and secretion requirements. Such enhanced secretion demands can push the lacrimal gland to its limits, with maximized tear fluid secretion and increased flow through the lacrimal ducts. The goal of this study was to investigate whether G protein-coupled receptor GPR-68 is present in the lacrimal gland, as this protein has recently been shown to be sensitive to flow rate and osmolarity.
METHODS: For this purpose, de-identified sections of human lacrimal gland tissue were stained for the presence of G protein-coupled receptor 68 with specific antibodies using immunohistochemistry.
RESULTS: Specific staining was detected in the acini and ducts of human lacrimal gland. In the ducts, the specific staining was found around the lumen of the ducts. In the acini, the specific staining was observed more towards the lumen but also intercellularly between the acinar cells.
CONCLUSIONS: The detection of G protein-coupled receptor GPR-68 in the lacrimal gland, especially around the lumen of the ducts, raises the question about its function and purpose. Activation of GPR68 leads to modification of various cell functions and is associated with regulation of inflammation. Accordingly, enhanced, secretion-induced, augmentation of flow might exert fluid flow stress on the ducts and acini. This might lead to transient, localized activation of GPR-68 and secondary inflammation within the gland. Depending on the intensity, continuity or repetitive nature of the stimuli, exhaustion of the lacrimal gland secretion capacity might follow, and chronicity of the inflammation in the parenchyma as well as around the ducts might be a consequence.
CONCLUSIONS: G protein-coupled receptor GPR-68, sensitive to flow, is present in the human lacrimal gland. Increased flow, triggered by sensations such as are typical for dry eye, might lead to local inflammation. It is possible that these sensations might serve as a better indicator for the need and success of therapy than the clinical signs of dry eye disease, at least in the early stages of the disease.