An In Vitro Model for the Ocular Surface and Tear Film System.

ABSTRACT: Dry eye is a complicated ocular surface disease whose exact pathogenesis is not yet fully understood. For the therapeutic evaluation and pathogenesis study of dry eye, we established an in vitro three-dimensional (3D) coculture model for the ocular surface. It is composed of rabbit conjunctival epithelium and lacrimal gland cell spheroids, and recapitulates the aqueous and mucin layers of the tear film. We first investigated the culture conditions for both cell types to optimize their secretory functions, by employing goblet cell enrichment, air-lifting culture, and 3D spheroid formation techniques. The coculture of the two cell components leads to elevated secretion and higher expression of tear secretory markers. We also compared several coculture systems, and found that direct cell cont

SUBMITTER: Lu Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5522434 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature