Purpose: The purpose of the study was to determine molecular changes in selected epithelial proteins in human keratoconus (KC) corneas compared to normal corneas.
Methods: Two-dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoretic profiles of epithelial cell proteins from normal and keratoconus corneas were compared, and the selected protein spots that showed either up- or downregulation were identified. The desired spots were identified after trypsin digestion and mass spectrometric analysis.