Hartman Institute for Therapeutic Organ Regeneration

Silk-Derived Protein Enhances Corneal Epithelial Migration, Adhesion, and Proliferation.

TitleSilk-Derived Protein Enhances Corneal Epithelial Migration, Adhesion, and Proliferation.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2017
AuthorsAbdel-Naby W, Cole B, Liu A, Liu J, Wan P, Guaiquil VH, Schreiner R, Infanger D, Lawrence BD, Rosenblatt MI
JournalInvest Ophthalmol Vis Sci
Volume58
Issue3
Pagination1425-1433
Date Published2017 Mar 01
ISSN1552-5783
KeywordsAnimals, Bombyx, Cell Adhesion, Cell Movement, Cell Proliferation, Cells, Cultured, Corneal Injuries, Culture Media, Epithelium, Corneal, Humans, Limbus Corneae, Silk, Wound Healing
Abstract

<p><b>PURPOSE: </b>The corneal surface is vulnerable to a myriad of traumatic insults including mechanical, chemical, and thermal injuries. The resulting trauma may render the naturally occurring regenerative properties of the cornea incapable of restoring a healthy epithelial surface, and may result in the loss of corneal transparency and vision. Healing of the corneal epithelium requires a complex cascade of biological processes that work to restore the tissue after injury. New therapeutic agents that act on the multiple steps of the corneal wound-healing process would offer a potential for improving patient outcomes. Here, a novel silk fibroin-derived protein (SDP) was studied for potential impacts on wound healing through studying an in vitro model.</p><p><b>METHODS: </b>Solubilized SDP, produced from the Bombyx mori silkworm cocoon, was added to human corneal limbal-epithelial (hCLE) cultures to evaluate the material's effects on epithelial cell migration, proliferation, and adhesion through the use of various scratch wound assays and flow chamber studies.</p><p><b>RESULTS: </b>Results indicated that the addition of SDP to culture increased hCLE migration rate by over 50%, and produced an approximate 60% increase in cell proliferation. This resulted in a nearly 30% enhancement of in vitro scratch wound closure time. In addition, cultures treated with SDP experienced increased cell-matrix focal adhesion formation by over 95% when compared to controls.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS: </b>The addition of SDP to culture media significantly enhanced hCLE cell sheet migration, proliferation, and attachment when compared to untreated controls, and indicates SDP's potential utility as an ophthalmic therapeutic agent.</p>

DOI10.1167/iovs.16-19957
Alternate JournalInvest Ophthalmol Vis Sci
PubMed ID28257533
PubMed Central IDPMC6022413
Grant ListP30 EY001792 / EY / NEI NIH HHS / United States

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Hartman Institute for Therapeutic Organ Regeneration
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