Scientific Reports · 4 authors, 7 centres
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Researchers modified a corneal epithelium-on-a-chip to apply an air–liquid interface stimulus to human corneal epithelial cells, producing transcriptomic and metabolomic changes consistent with dry eye syndrome including increased inflammatory gene expression and secretion of damage-associated metabolites.
Researchers modified a previously developed corneal epithelium-on-a-chip device to apply an air–liquid (AL) interface to HCE-T human corneal epithelial cells, simulating conditions of evaporative dry eye syndrome. Transcriptomic analysis revealed upregulation of PIEZO2 and IL-6 alongside downregulation of OCLN and MUC16 under AL conditions, reflecting characteristics of dry eye such as inflammation and disrupted epithelial structure. Metabolomic analysis showed increased secretion of acylcarnitines and metabotoxins associated with cell damage, with DCF further enhancing apical secretion of these metabolites.
