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The Eyelid Margin

2007; American Medical Association; Volume: 125; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1001/archopht.125.4.523

1538-3601

Shaohui Liu, Jing Li, Donald Tan, Roger W. Beuerman,

melanin and skin pigmentation

Objective To investigate the differentiation profile of the epithelium of the eyelid margin in the primate. Methods The expression of cytokeratins (CKs) CK1/10, CK4, CK14, CK5/8, and CK19; involucrin; connexin 43; filaggrin; and muscarinic receptor subtypes (m1-m5) on eyelid tissues from adult Macaca fascicularis (n = 3) was studied by immunohistochemistry. Results Cytokeratin 1/10, CK4, CK19, filaggrin, and connexin 43 expression varied across the epithelium of the mucocutaneous junction (MCJ). At the MCJ, CK4-positive cells overlapped basal CK14-expressing cells. The meibomian gland duct and the MCJ revealed layers of CK14-positive cells. Cytokeratin 5/8 was expressed in the basal layer of the epidermis and conjunctiva, while involucrin-positive cells were superficial. The m2 was expressed throughout the conjunctiva; m3 was found in the basal cells of the skin, conjunctiva, and alveolar epithelial cells of the meibomian glands; and m4 was expressed in the suprabasal layers of the skin. Conclusions The eyelid margin epithelium is formed from 2 different epithelial cell subpopulations with specific but overlapping distributions. The meibomian gland duct or MCJ may be a site of conjunctival progenitor cells. Clinical Relevance This study provides a basis for understanding eyelid pathological conditions and eventually for developing methods for cellular reconstruction of the eyelid margin using expanded progenitor cells.