TG2 is involved in murine corneal wound healing and regulates inflammatory tear cytokines.

• Main Author: Lim, Eleanor Yan Xin.
• Other Authors: School of Biological Sciences
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2012
• Subjects: DRNTU::Science
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/49354
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Transglutaminase 2 has been implicated in skin, liver and corneal wound healing. Although much knowledge has been gathered on the mechanism of action in other parts of the body, the relationship between TG2 and corneal wound healing has not been established. Thus, this study aims to elucidate the cytokine changes in inflammation during corneal wound healing, as well as the role TG2 plays in cytokine production. Tear fluid from two groups of mice- TG2 wild type and TG2 knockout were collected after corneal scratching. Collection was performed with glass capillary tubes and after flushing with saline solution. Multiplex fluorescent bead based cytokine assay was used to detect 10 different cytokines. Statistical analysis was done using mixed models. In both groups of mice, cytokines IL-1a, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12(p40) and TNFa showed a significant increase with time, with a maximum detection at 4 or 7 hours after wounding. The levels of IL-1a and IL-2 were significantly lowered in TG2 knockout mice as compared to wild type. This research will eventually allow drug therapies using TG related strategies to regulate cytokine levels in ocular diseases. Information about cytokine changes on ocular surface wound healing may also be relevant to future patient care.