Human excimer laser keratectomy. Immunohistochemical analysis of healing
J. A. Anderson, P. S. Binder, M. E. Rock and M. P. Vrabec
National Vision Research Institute, San Diego, Calif, USA.
OBJECTIVE: To analyze human corneal responses to excimer laser by
immunohistochemistry. METHODS: Corneas cultured for 3 weeks after laser
ablation or taken from patients 5 to 16 months after laser treatment were
exposed to antibodies to beta, integrin; types VII, IV, and III collagen;
fibronectin; type I procollagen; and prolyl 4-hydroxylase. Antibody
distributions were compared with those of normal corneas and unablated
regions of treated corneas. RESULTS: After 3 weeks, distribution of beta,
integrin, and types VII and IV collagen was patchy; heavy deposits of
fibronectin appeared subepithelially. Keratocytes stained for
prolyl-4-hydroxylase and type I procollagen. With increasing postoperative
time, fibronectin diminished, and beta 4 integrin and type VII collagen
became linear, stromal staining of types III and IV collagen increased and
their diminished. CONCLUSIONS: Components of basement membrane, attachment
complexes, and stromal matrix are synthesized shortly after laser
treatment. Changes in these elements persist for 16 months in the human
cornea.
