Comparative Study of Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency Diagnosis Methods: Detection of MUC5AC mRNA and Goblet Cells in Corneal Epithelium

Effects of Autologous Serum Eye Drops on Conjunctival Expression of MUC5AC in Patients With Ocular Surface Disorders

“…The primer pair used was MUC5AC-F (CCTGCAAGCCTCCAGGTAG) and MUC5AC-R (CTGCTCCACTGGCTTTGG). 26 The most important parameter for quantification in real-time PCR is the Ct value, which is the fractional cycle number at which the amount of amplified target reaches a determined threshold of detectable fluorescence. The threshold is set in the mid-linear phase of the amplification plot.…”

“…However, recent studies have claimed that the presence of the MUC5AC transcript, a specific marker of goblet cells that can be detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), in the corneal and conjunctival epithelium is a more sensitive and objective method to detect the presence of goblet cells. 26,27 The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the treatment with autologous serum on the expression of MUC5AC in the conjunctiva by means of quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR).…”

An Update on Ocular Surface Epithelial Stem Cells: Cornea and Conjunctiva

“…MUC5AC, on the other hand, has long been postulated as being specific to the conjunctival goblet cells [40]. Although it is not detected in the ECs of the conjunctiva, it is the best surrogate marker for the presence of conjunctival epithelium by identifying the goblet cells that are absent in the corneal epithelium in health.…”

“…Another method for identifying goblet cells is by PAS staining of MUCs. This is indeed used clinically in the investigation of corneal conjunctivalisation by corneal impression cytology [40]. …”

Presentation, diagnosis and management of limbal stem cell deficiency

“…Cytokeratin 3/12 are regarded as markers of corneal epithelial differentiation while Cytokeratin 19 has been reported as conjunctiva specific cytokeratin 2829. However, recently Cytokeratin 7 and 13, mucin (MUC) 1 and MUC5AC are reported as being more specific for conjunctival epithelium than cytokeratin 19 30–33. It has also been reported that molecular analysis using RT-PCR for the detection of MUC5AC transcript in the corneal epithelium is a sensitive, specific and objective technique 33.…”