Persistent adhesion of corneal epithelial tissue on synthetic lenticules in vivo

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Abstract
In intact cornea, firm anchorage of the epithelium to its underlying stroma is provided by a system of adhesive structures, which include the epithelial basement membrane, adhesion complexes and associated alpha6beta4 integrin receptors. In the present study we sought to determine whether the sustained epithelialization of synthetic lenticules observed in vivo involved the formation of adhesive structures at the epithelial-lenticule interface similar to those present in intact tissue. Collagen I-coated microporous polycarbonate membranes were implanted in the anterior stroma of adult cats. Successfully epithelialized lenticules were maintained on eye for 9-12 weeks, after which time the epithelial-lenticule interface was examined for evidence of adhesive structures using immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. Immunohistochemistry identified laminin, hemidesmosomal plaque, collagen VII and alpha6 integrin at the tissue lenticule interface. Ultrastructural examination showed evidence of assembly of these components into a basement membrane and adhesion complexes. The formation of these adhesive structures is likely to have contributed to the sustained epithelialization observed clinically on the collagen-coated synthetic lenticules.

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