PMID: 9436358Jan 22, 1998Paper

Neurotrophic keratopathy--studies on substance P and the clinical significance of corneal sensation

Nippon Ganka Gakkai zasshi
Teruo NishidaM J Mannis

Abstract

Neurotrophic keratopathy, which often follows damage to the trigeminal nerve, is clinically characterized by various types of epithelial disorders and melting of corneal stroma. To understand both the pathology of neurotrophic keratopathy and the physiological significance of corneal sensation, we investigated both the cellular and molecular functions of a sensory neurotransmitter, substance P, in corneal epithelial cells. Our findings prompted us to try a new mode of treatment for neurotrophic keratopathy. Substance P, a member of the tachykinin family, is an 11-amino-acid peptide. In an organ culture system using rabbit corneas, substance P alone had no effect on corneal epithelial migration. In the presence of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), however, substance P synergistically facilitated corneal epithelial migration in proportion to the concentration of substance P or of IGF-1. Other neurotransmitters (acetylcholine, norepinephrine, serotonin etc.) or tachykinins (neurokinin A, eledoisin etc.) did not show this synergistic effect with IGF-1. Among receptors for the tachykinin family (NK-1, NK-2, or NK-3) only the NK-1 receptor system was involved in the synergistic effect of substance P and IGF-1 on corneal epithelia...Continue Reading

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