Are BALB/c Mice Relevant Models for Understanding Sex-Related Differences in Gene Expression in the Human Meibomian Gland?

ABSTRACT:

Background

A compelling feature of dry eye disease is that it occurs predominantly in women. We hypothesize that this female prevalence is linked to sex-related differences in the meibomian gland (MG). This gland plays a critical role in maintaining the tear film, and its dysfunction is a major cause of dry eye disease. To understand the factors that underlie MG sexual dimorphism and promote dry eye in women, we seek to identify an optimal model for the human MG. Our goal was to determine whether a murine MG is such a model. Toward that end, we examined whether sex differences in MG gene expression are the same in BALB/c mice and humans.

Methods

Eyelid tissues were collected from humans (n = 5-7/sex) and BALB/c mice (n = 9/sex). MGs were isolated and processed for the evalua

SUBMITTER: Chen X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6832805 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature