Increased expression of tenascin-C-binding epithelial integrins in human bullous keratopathy corneas.

SUMMARY We previously found an abnormal deposition of an extracellular matrix glycoprotein, tenascin-C (TN-C), in human corneas with pseudophakic/aphakic bullous keratopathy (PBK/ABK). In this work, we studied cellular TN-C receptors in normal and PBK/ABK corneas. Cryostat sections of normal and PBK/ABK corneas were stained by immunofluorescence for TN-C receptors: � 2 , � 8 , � 9 , � V � 3 , � 1 , and � 6 integrins, and annexin II. � 6 integrin mRNA levels were assessed by semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using � 2 -microglobulin gene to normalize the samples. In PBK/ABK compared to normal corneas, relatively minor changes were observed for � 2 and � 1 integrins,