Publications by authors named "Darlene A Dartt"

Article Synopsis
  • - The study investigates the effectiveness of a 14-day treatment using topical dexamethasone and artificial tears for patients with dry eyes, measuring clinical response using various eye assessments before and after treatment.
  • - A total of 167 patients (mostly women, average age 54) showed significant improvement in symptoms and objective measures like Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) and Dry Eye Questionnaire (DEQ-5) one month post-treatment.
  • - The findings indicate that changes in symptoms correlate with baseline measurements of dry eye disease severity, while intraocular pressure slightly decreased, showing potential effectiveness of the corticosteroid regimen in a real-world clinical context.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates the role of conjunctival goblet cells (CjGCs) in eye health, focusing on their secretions beyond mucin, specifically extracellular vesicles (EVs) and lipid mediators during allergic inflammation.
  • Findings reveal that female CjGCs significantly increase pro-resolving mediators LXA4 and RvD1 in EVs after histamine stimulation, while no such increase is observed in male CjGCs.
  • This indicates a potential sex difference in allergic responses that could explain males' higher susceptibility to severe allergic conjunctivitis, suggesting new avenues for clinical treatment.*
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: To compare the effect of the ocular antiseptic treatments 0.05% chlorhexidine, 5% povidone-iodine (PI) and 5% betadine on cell viability and mucin secretion of primary cultured human goblet cells (GCs).

Method: GC viability was analysed using lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and tetrazolium dye (MTT) colorimetric assays.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

We used cultured human conjunctival goblet cells to determine (i) whether the toxigenic induced activation of the epithelial goblet cells requires two signals to activate the NLRP3 inflammasome, (ii) if one signal is mediated by TLR1, TLR2, or TLR6, and (iii) if the toxin α toxin is another signal for the activation of the inflammasome and secretion of mature IL-1β. Cultured cells were incubated with siRNA to knock down the different TLRs. After stimulation with toxigenic RN6390, pro-IL-1β synthesis, caspase-1 activity, and mature IL-1β secretion were measured.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: To investigate the effect of benzalkonium chloride (BAK)-preserved latanoprost and bimatoprost, polyquad (PQ)-preserved travoprost, and preservative-free (PF) latanoprost and tafluprost, all prostaglandin analogues (PGAs), on human conjunctival goblet cell (GC) survival. Furthermore, to investigate the effect of BAK-preserved and PF latanoprost on the cytokine secretion from GC.

Methods: Primary human conjunctival GCs were cultivated from donor tissue.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • * Researchers cultured MECs from mice and treated them with gDNA, measuring cytokine secretion and inflammasome activation through various assays, including ELISA and immunofluorescence microscopy.
  • * Results showed that gDNA activated AIM2 inflammasome and STING pathways in MECs, leading to the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18, suggesting a significant role for self-gDNA in
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Ionotropic purinergic receptors (P2XRs) are activated by ATP and ATP analogs. ATP can be released through ATP-permeable channels such as the pannexin hemichannels. Upon activation, the P2XRs become permeable to Ca, a potent stimulator of mucin secretion in conjunctival goblet cells (CGCs).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Dry eye is a multi-factorial disease affecting ocular surface health, with a profoundly higher prevalence in women. Disruption of the gel-forming mucin that is secreted by conjunctival goblet cells (CGCs) onto the ocular surface contributes to multiple ocular surface diseases. The elimination of exogenous sex hormones is essential to obtain consistent results during in vitro study of sex-based differences in CGCs.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Annexin A1 (AnxA1) is the primary mediator of the anti-inflammatory actions of glucocorticoids. AnxA1 functions as a pro-resolving mediator in cultured rat conjunctival goblet cells to ensure tissue homeostasis through stimulation of intracellular [Ca] ([Ca]) and mucin secretion. AnxA1 has several N-terminal peptides with anti-inflammatory properties of their own, including Ac2-26, Ac2-12, and Ac9-25.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The lacrimal gland (LG) secretes aqueous tears. Previous studies have provided insights into the cell lineage relationships during tissue morphogenesis. However, little is known about the cell types composing the adult LG and their progenitors.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Lacrimal gland inflammation triggers dry eye disease through impaired tear secretion by the epithelium. As aberrant inflammasome activation occurs in autoimmune disorders including Sjögren's syndrome, we analyzed the inflammasome pathway during acute and chronic inflammation and investigated its potential regulators. Bacterial infection was mimicked by the intraglandular injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and nigericin, known to activate the NLRP3 inflammasome.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) reduces quality-of-life and hinders work productivity of millions of patients, with high direct and indirect societal costs. Thickened meibum obstructs the glands and disrupts ocular surface health. Heating the eyelids to soften and express meibum from the glands can be beneficial.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: Transcorneal electrical stimulation (TcES) is increasingly applied as a therapy for preserving and improving vision in retinal neurodegenerative and ischemic disorders. However, a common complaint about TcES is its induction of eye pain and dryness in the clinic, while the mechanisms remain unknown.

Method: TcES or transpalpebral ES (TpES) was conducted in C57BL6j mice for 14 days.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The lacrimal gland (LG) is an exocrine gland that produces the watery part of the tear film that lubricates the ocular surface. Chronic inflammation, such as Sjögren's syndrome (SS), is one of the leading causes of aqueous-deficiency dry eye (ADDE) disease worldwide. In this study we analyzed the chronic inflammation in the LGs of the NOD.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Dry eye disease (DED) is among the most prevalent ophthalmic conditions but is often underdiagnosed and mistreated. Antibiotics are regularly used to treat DED caused by meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) or blepharitis, but their use has been questioned.

Objective: To critically evaluate the use of oral and topical antibiotics in DED management.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Many conjunctival inflammatory diseases differ between the sexes and altered conjunctival goblet cells (CGCs) response is often involved. Inflammation is initiated by the release of pro-inflammatory mediators and terminated by the biosynthesis of specialized pro-resolution mediators (SPMs). Herein, we determined the sex-based difference in the responses of CGCs to inflammatory stimuli or pro-resolving lipid SPMs and their interaction with sex hormones.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The mucin layer of the tear film is produced by goblet cells in the conjunctiva to protect the ocular surface and maintain homeostasis. The pro-resolving lipid mediator resolvin D2 (RvD2) biosynthesized from an omega 3 fatty acid actively terminates inflammation and regulates mucin secretion from conjunctival goblet cells. Our objective was to determine which Ca -dependent signaling pathways RvD2 uses to stimulate conjunctival goblet cell function (CGC).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs), including Maresins (MaR)-1 and 2, contribute to tear film homeostasis and resolve conjunctival inflammation. We investigated MaR2's signaling pathways in goblet cells (GC) from rat conjunctiva. Agonist-induced [Ca] and high-molecular weight glycoconjugate secretion were measured.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Dry eye disease (DED) is a highly prevalent and debilitating condition affecting several hundred million people worldwide. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally occurring glycosaminoglycan commonly used in the treatment of DED. This review aims to critically evaluate the literature on the safety and efficacy of artificial tears containing HA used in DED treatment.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Visual display terminal (VDT) use is a key risk factor for dry eye disease (DED). Visual display terminal (VDT) use reduces the blink rate and increases the number of incomplete blinks. However, the exact mechanisms causing DED development from VDT use have yet to be clearly described.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Dry eye disease affects millions of people worldwide, causing pain, vision disturbance, and reduced productivity. Meibomian gland dysfunction, a major cause of dry eye, is characterized by chronic glandular inflammation, thickening of the meibum, obstruction of terminal ducts, and glandular atrophy. Treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction can utilize heat and pressure applied to the meibomian glands, increasing meibum expression.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Resolvin (Rv) D2 and RvD1 are biosynthesized from docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and promote resolution of inflammation in multiple organs and tissues, including the conjunctiva. Histamine is a mediator produced by mast cells in the conjunctiva during the allergic response. We determined the interaction of RvD2 with histamine and its receptor subtypes in cultured conjunctival goblet cells and compared them with RvD1 by measuring intracellular [Ca] and mucous secretion.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: To investigate the short-term impact on human conjunctival goblet cell (GC) survival and mucin release of acute exposure to benzalkonium chloride (BAK) preserved and preservative-free (PF) 0.005% (w/v) latanoprost (LT) eye drops, and to compare the eye drops' physicochemical properties.

Methods And Analysis: Primary GC cultures were established from human conjunctival donor tissue.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: We reported that oxytocin (OXT), added to freshly prepared lacrimal gland lobules, induced myoepithelial cell (MEC) contraction. In other systems, OXT activates phospholipase C (PLC) generating Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) which increases intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) causing contraction. The aim of the current study was to investigate the role of this pathway in OXT-induced contraction of MEC.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is the most common cause of dry eye disease (DED). In this study, we aimed to compare the effects of eyelid warming treatment using either TheraPearl Eye Mask (Bausch & Lomb Inc., New York, USA) or Blephasteam (Spectrum Thea Pharmaceuticals LTD, Macclesfield, UK) in a Norwegian population with mild to moderate MGD-related DED.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: Notice

Message: fwrite(): Write of 34 bytes failed with errno=28 No space left on device

Filename: drivers/Session_files_driver.php

Line Number: 272

Backtrace:

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: Warning

Message: session_write_close(): Failed to write session data using user defined save handler. (session.save_path: /var/lib/php/sessions)

Filename: Unknown

Line Number: 0

Backtrace: