Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Siena University, Via A. Moro, 53100, Siena, Italy.
Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Siena University, Via A. Moro, 53100, Siena, Italy.
Anal Biochem. 2021 Jun 15;623:114174. doi: 10.1016/j.ab.2021.114174. Epub 2021 Mar 23.
Keratoconus (KC) is the most common degenerative corneal disease and no single biomarker for KC has been discovered. Its causes have not yet been clarified and this work aims to be a contribution to the deepening of the knowledge of this disease and a preliminary data to the evaluation of the possibility of the use of copper (Cu) concentration in the tear fluid as a specific marker. A tear fluid sampling and Cu determination by spectrometric atomic absorption method was optimized to determine Cu levels in the tear fluid of patients with KC compared to that of healthy patients. Results demonstrate that in the KC subjects (n = 6) the concentration of Cu ions was 325.5 ± 110.7 ng/ml, while in the control group was 141.3 ± 71.1 ng/ml. A significant increase in Cu ion levels in the tear fluid was observed in the KC group compared to the control group (p value < 0.001).
圆锥角膜（KC）是最常见的退行性角膜疾病，尚未发现针对 KC 的单一生物标志物。其病因尚未阐明，本研究旨在为加深对这种疾病的认识做出贡献，并为评估泪液中铜（Cu）浓度作为特定标志物的可能性提供初步数据。通过优化泪液采样和光谱原子吸收法测定 Cu，以比较 KC 患者和健康患者的泪液中 Cu 水平。结果表明，在 KC 组（n=6）中，Cu 离子的浓度为 325.5±110.7ng/ml，而在对照组中为 141.3±71.1ng/ml。与对照组相比，KC 组泪液中 Cu 离子水平显著升高（p 值<0.001）。
