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Cited by 503Corneal Surgery and TreatmentsCorneal surgery and disordersOcular Surface and Contact Lens

The cellular basis of corneal transparency: evidence for 'corneal crystallins'

Jester, James V., Moller-Pedersen, Torben, Huang, Jiying, Sax, Christina M., Kays, Wm Todd, Cavangh, H. Dwight, Petroll, W. Matthew, Piatigorsky, Joram·1999·Journal of Cell Science
DOI 10.1242/jcs.112.5.613
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Abstract

In vivo corneal light scattering measurements using a novel confocal microscope demonstrated greatly increased backscatter from corneal stromal fibrocytes (keratocytes) in opaque compared to transparent corneal tissue in both humans and rabbits. Additionally, two water-soluble proteins, transketolase (TKT) and aldehyde dehydrogenase class 1 (ALDH1), isolated from rabbit keratocytes showed unexpectedly abundant expression (∼30% of the soluble protein) in transparent corneas and markedly reduced levels in opaque scleral fibroblasts or keratocytes from hazy, freeze injured regions of the cornea. Together these data suggest that the relatively high expressions of TKT and ALDH1 contribute to corneal transparency in the rabbit at the cellular level, reminiscent of enzymecrystallins in the lens. We also note that ALDH1 accumulates in the rabbit corneal epithelial cells, rather than ALDH3 as seen in other mammals, consistent with the taxon-specificity observed among lens enzyme-crystallins. Our results suggest that corneal cells, like lens cells, may preferentially express water-soluble proteins, often enzymes, for controlling their optical properties.

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Crossref · 10.1242/jcs.112.5.613

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  • Stromal cells contain cytoplasmic molecules called corneal crystallins that act in much the same way as crystallins in the lens.

    “They postulated that stromal cells contain cytoplasmic molecules called corneal crystallins that act in much the same was as crystallins in the lens.”

    From Corneal structure and transparency (2015) · cites this paper as Jester et al., 1999

  • Confocal microscope studies of corneal wound healing suggest that activation of keratocyte cells could be responsible for the increase in scattering.

    “Confocal microscope studies of corneal wound healing suggest that the activation of the keratocyte cells could be responsible for the increase in scattering (Jester et al., 1999, Moller-Pedersen, 2004).”

    From Corneal structure and transparency (2015) · cites this paper as Jester et al., 1999

  • Corneal keratocytes do not scatter light because their refractive index matches that of the surrounding matrix.

    “Corneal keratocytes do not scatter light because their refractive index matches that of the surrounding matrix.”

    From Structural control of corneal transparency, refractive power and dynamics (2025) · cites this paper as [8]

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Authors
Jester, J. V., Moller-Pedersen, T., Huang, J., Sax, C. M., Kays, W. T., Cavangh, H. D., Petroll, W. M., & Piatigorsky, J.
Affiliations
  • The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (US)
  • Aarhus University Hospital 2 Department of Ophthalmology , , Aarhus, Denmark
  • National Institutes of Health (US)
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Cell Science
Publisher
The Company of Biologists
Published
1999-03-01
Volume
112
Issue
5
Pages
613-622
ISSN
  • 0021-9533 (ISSN-L)
  • 1477-9137
DOI
10.1242/jcs.112.5.613
OpenAlex
W1949741226
Cited by
503
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 34 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 20 · 2017: 22 · 2016: 20 · 2015: 27 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 18 · 2012: 16
FWCI
9.55
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.biologists.com/user-licence-1-1/ (vor)
Locations
  • Journal of Cell Science (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
Funders
National Eye Institute (R01EY007348, EY07348)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Corneal Surgery and Treatments
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Corneal surgery and disorders
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Ocular Surface and Contact Lens
Keywords
corneal transparency, keratocytes, corneal stroma, corneal opacity, transketolase, corneal light scattering, corneal epithelial cells, lens crystallins, water-soluble proteins, corneal fibroblasts
MeSH terms
Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1 Family, Aldehyde Dehydrogenase, Amino Acid Sequence, Animals, Base Sequence, Cornea, Crystallins, Eye Injuries, Humans, Isoenzymes, Light, Molecular Sequence Data, Rabbits, RNA, Messenger, Scattering, Radiation, Transketolase, Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic, DNA, Complementary, Microscopy, Confocal, Retinal Dehydrogenase

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