Investigative ophthalmology & visual science · 2025
Single-Cell Transcriptomics Reveals Effects of Long-Term Contact Lens Wearing on the Human Corneal Epithelium.
СтатьяПоддержка исследования: вне правительства СШАНазвание и аннотация: Перевод в очереди
Обработка статьи · этапы, ошибки и управление
Загрузка состояния…
Ошибки и ограничения
История · было → стало
Состояние обновляется каждые 5 секунд, пока блок открыт. Процент показывается только там, где известен объём работы. Пауза останавливает продолжение этапа; текущий запрос к источнику может завершиться.
Zhang Xiaowen, Sun Di, Liu Ting, Wang Ning, Dou Shengqian, Wang Qun, Li Dewei, Song Yi, Tian Le, Wan Luqin, Chen Min
Аннотация
PURPOSE: Corneal contact lenses (CLs) are increasingly used as a treatment for myopia correction. This study aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying corneal epithelial pathological changes induced by long-term CL wear, thereby providing potential targets for the prevention and management of CL-related corneal complications.
METHODS: We initially conducted single-cell RNA sequencing on intact corneal epithelium samples obtained from myopic patients with prolonged CL wear and nonwearing controls. Differential expression analysis and functional enrichment systematically characterized cell type-specific transcriptional changes between the two groups. Additionally, gene set expression scoring analysis, combined with experimental validation, revealed distinct pathological signatures associated with long-term CL use.
RESULTS: Our analysis revealed a significant increase in epithelial keratinization and enhanced chronic inflammatory response in the CL group. All epithelial cell types exhibited elevated senescence scores following prolonged CL wear. Furthermore, we detected a significant upregulation of hypoxia-related genes in the corneal epithelium of CL wearers, accompanied by metabolic impairment and dysfunction. Moreover, most typical angiogenesis- and neurodegeneration-related genes showed significantly higher expression levels in the corneal epithelium after extended CL use.
CONCLUSIONS: Long-term wear of CLs may induce various manifestations in corneal epithelial cells, including keratinization, inflammatory response, aerobic metabolic impairment, cellular senescence, neovascularization, and corneal sensory abnormalities. These changes could compromise ocular surface barrier function and increase the risk of infectious keratitis.
METHODS: We initially conducted single-cell RNA sequencing on intact corneal epithelium samples obtained from myopic patients with prolonged CL wear and nonwearing controls. Differential expression analysis and functional enrichment systematically characterized cell type-specific transcriptional changes between the two groups. Additionally, gene set expression scoring analysis, combined with experimental validation, revealed distinct pathological signatures associated with long-term CL use.
RESULTS: Our analysis revealed a significant increase in epithelial keratinization and enhanced chronic inflammatory response in the CL group. All epithelial cell types exhibited elevated senescence scores following prolonged CL wear. Furthermore, we detected a significant upregulation of hypoxia-related genes in the corneal epithelium of CL wearers, accompanied by metabolic impairment and dysfunction. Moreover, most typical angiogenesis- and neurodegeneration-related genes showed significantly higher expression levels in the corneal epithelium after extended CL use.
CONCLUSIONS: Long-term wear of CLs may induce various manifestations in corneal epithelial cells, including keratinization, inflammatory response, aerobic metabolic impairment, cellular senescence, neovascularization, and corneal sensory abnormalities. These changes could compromise ocular surface barrier function and increase the risk of infectious keratitis.