RESUMEN
Understanding the regulatory mechanisms underlying corneal epithelial cell (CEC) proliferation in vitro may provide the means to boost CEC production in cell therapy for ocular disorders. The transcription factor ΔNp63 plays a crucial role in the proliferation of CECs, but the underlying mechanisms is yet to be elucidated. TP63 and ΔNp63 are encoded by the TP63 gene via alternative promoters. We previously reported that both ΔNp63 and activating transcription factor (ATF3) are substantially expressed in cultured CECs, but the regulatory relationship between ΔNp63 and ATF3 is unknown. In the present study, we found that ΔNp63 increased ATF3 expression and ATF3 promoter activity in cultured CECs. The deletion of the p63 binding core site reduced ATF3 promoter activity. CECs overexpressing ATF3 exhibited significantly greater proliferation than control CECs. ATF3 knockdown suppressed the ΔNp63-induced increase in cell proliferation. Overexpression of ATF3 in CECs significantly elevated protein and mRNA levels of cyclin D. The protein levels of keratin 3/14, integrin ß1, and involucrin did not differ between ATF3-overexpressing CECs, ATF3-downregulated CECs, and control cells. In conclusion, our results suggest that ΔNp63 increases CEC proliferation via the ΔNp63/ATF3/CDK pathway.
RESUMEN
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to describe the clinical features of infectious scleritis with distinct inciting events and to analyze the factors associated with poor visual outcome. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the predisposing factors, clinical findings, isolated organisms, complications, and outcomes of patients with infectious scleritis examined between January 2003 and December 2012 at the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan. RESULTS: Forty-five (94%) of 48 patients with infectious scleritis had preceding inciting factors. Prior ocular surgery (40 eyes, 83%), especially pterygium excision (27 eyes, 57%), accounted for the majority of cases; prior accidental injury was found in 5 eyes (10%). The trauma group had a significantly shorter latency and duration of symptoms before diagnosis when compared with the surgery group. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (22 eyes, 46%) was the most commonly identified pathogen, and fungus was detected in 7 eyes (15%). Fungal infections had a longer symptom duration and smaller scleral ulcers at presentations than bacterial infections did. All patients were administered antimicrobials, and early surgical debridement (median 3 days) was performed in 38 eyes (79%). Three eyes (6%) required eyeball removal, and 10 patients (21%) had a posttreatment vision >20/200. With univariate analysis, the identified factors that were significantly associated with poor visual outcomes were visual acuity at presentation worse than 20/200 (P = 0.01), a long duration of hospitalization (P = 0.02), and eyes complicated by scleral thinning (P = 0.034). CONCLUSIONS: Infectious scleritis associated with distinct inciting factors or different offending organisms can display divergent characteristics. Intensive antimicrobial treatment and early surgical debridement can salvage eyes.
Asunto(s)
Infecciones Bacterianas del Ojo/microbiología , Infecciones Fúngicas del Ojo/microbiología , Escleritis/microbiología , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Antiinfecciosos/uso terapéutico , Bacterias/aislamiento & purificación , Técnicas Bacteriológicas , Infecciones Bacterianas del Ojo/diagnóstico , Infecciones Bacterianas del Ojo/tratamiento farmacológico , Infecciones Fúngicas del Ojo/diagnóstico , Infecciones Fúngicas del Ojo/tratamiento farmacológico , Femenino , Hongos/aislamiento & purificación , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Estudios Retrospectivos , Factores de Riesgo , Escleritis/diagnóstico , Escleritis/tratamiento farmacológico , Taiwán/epidemiología , Centros de Atención Terciaria , Agudeza Visual/fisiologíaRESUMEN
PURPOSE: To evaluate the prevalence and possible role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in the formation of pterygia in patients in Taiwan, a tropical country with high prevalence of pterygium. METHODS: A total of 62 patients with 65 pterygia were retrospectively examined. Ten normal conjunctiva, 8 conjunctival nevi, and 2 malignant conjunctival melanomas served as controls. HPV detection and typing were accomplished using polymerase chain reaction amplification of the viral sequences. HPV-positive specimens underwent further investigation with fluorescence in situ hybridization. Clinical histories were recorded for each patient. RESULTS: Based on polymerase chain reaction analysis, 2 of 65 pterygia harbored HPV type 18, and they were also fluorescence in situ hybridization positive. No conjunctival control had HPV. There was no statistically significant correlation between pterygium and the presence of HPV. The presence of HPV was not significantly different between primary and recurrent pterygia. CONCLUSIONS: The limited presence of HPV DNA in pterygium does not conclude that HPV is necessary or acting alone in the formation of pterygium, but HPV may still be implicated to play a role in some pterygia in Taiwan.