Department of Ophthalmology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 4V2, Canada,
J Cell Commun Signal. 2014 Jun;8(2):113-24. doi: 10.1007/s12079-014-0230-1. Epub 2014 Mar 7.
Several studies have established the role of activated corneal keratocytes in the fibrosis of the cornea. However, the role of keratocytes in maintaining the structural integrity of a normal cornea is less appreciated. We focus on the probable functions of integrins in the eye and of the importance of integrin-mediated keratocyte interactions with stromal matrix in the maintenance of corneal integrity. We point out that further understanding of how keratocytes interact with their matrix could establish a novel direction in preventing corneal pathology including loss of structural integrity as in keratoconus or as in fibrosis of the corneal stroma.
已有多项研究证实了激活的角膜基质细胞在角膜纤维化中的作用。然而,角膜基质细胞在维持正常角膜结构完整性方面的作用却鲜为人知。我们专注于细胞整合素在眼睛中的可能功能,以及整合素介导的角膜基质细胞与基质相互作用在维持角膜完整性方面的重要性。我们指出,进一步了解角膜基质细胞如何与其基质相互作用,可能为预防角膜病理提供一个新的方向,包括预防结构完整性丧失,如圆锥角膜,或预防角膜基质纤维化。