Evidence of hyaluronic acid and hyaluronic acid binding sites on human corneal endothelium

Abstract

A highly specific hyaluronic acid (HA) recognizing protein (HABR) was used to study whether the human corneal endothelium is covered by HA and to quantify the amount. Tritiated high molecular weight HA was used to determine the capacity of the human endothelium to bind exogenous HA. Human corneas were obtained from keratoconus patients having corneal transplantation and from postmortem eyes. The corneas were immersed in a 4% formaldehyde solution containing 1% cetylpyridine chloride for histochemistry, frozen for biochemistry, or used for 3H-HA (Mr 3 x 10(6) binding. For the biochemical determinations, 125I-labeled HABR was used. Tritiated HA was used for the binding experiment. A specific layer of HA covering the endothelial cells of the corneal buttons was demonstrated. The biochemical analysis also revealed the presence of HA. Finally, the human endothelial cells had specific hyaluronic acid binding sites.

Corneal endothelial damage after cataract surgery: Microincision versus standard technique

“…Hyaluronic acid has binding sites on the endothelium and may provide mechanical and chemical protection during surgery. 14 The endothelial cell loss in this study is comparable to that in other studies. 4,[15][16][17] The aim of this study was to compare endothelial damage after standard cataract surgery and MICS.…”

Distribution and Function of Glycosaminoglycans and Proteoglycans in the Development, Homeostasis and Pathology of the Ocular Surface

“…In the posterior segment of the eye, HA has been detected in the vitreous humor, neurosensory retina, retinal pigmented epithelium, Bruch’s membrane and choroid ( Clark et al, 2011 ). In the anterior segment of normal eyes, HA has been detected in the aqueous humor, trabecular meshwork, iris stroma, lens capsule, corneal endothelium, conjunctival epithelium and limbal epithelium ( Figure 4 ) ( Härfstrand et al, 1992 ; Gong et al, 1994 ; Lerner et al, 1998 ; Gartaganis et al, 2001 ; Gesteira et al, 2017 ). Although studies have shown that the biological function of HA is dictated by its molecular weight, the molecular size of HA in these tissues have not been determined.…”

Repeated UVR exposures cause keratocyte resistance to apoptosis and hyaluronan accumulation in the rabbit cornea

“…Formation of HA deposits has been described following excimer laser surgery , alkali wounding to the cornea , and mechanical wounding (knife incision) (Molander et al 1993a(Molander et al & 1993b. HA is classified among the proteoglycans, and it is not found in the normal or uninjured corneal stroma (Madsen et al 1989;Lutjen-Drecoll et al 1990;Härfstrand et al 1992). Several investigators have described the HA production in the chick embryo during a period of corneal stromal swelling and invasion by mesenchymal cells (Toole & Trelstad 1971;Trelstad et al 1974;Hart 1978;Toole 1982).…”