Lacrimal gland transplantation for improvement of the gland function

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This study was originally designed to investigate die possibility of lacrimal gland transplantation as a treatment for severe dry eye, inducing Siogren's syndrome (SS). The surgical procedure of auto lacrimal gland graft transplantation has not been established and the concentration and function of transplanted lacrimal glands has not been evaluated in any animal model studies,To establish an evaluation system for lacrimal gland function, lactoferrin protein was measured in the tear through the use of LACTOPLATE TM (JDC) quantitation. Detection of lactoferrin in the lacrimal glands was accomplished by immunological staining using anti-human lactoferrin in patients with 55, (who have been documented to have less protein and secretion from the glands), and in non-SS (NSS). This antibody has been used for evaluation of the function of lacrimal glands. Previously, case studies have shown that tear lactoferrin in severe day eye including 55 is significantly lower than in NSS day eye cases. We confirmed the results of this lacrimal gland evaluation system using tie aforementioned anti-lactoferrin antibody. Furthermore, relatively high concentrations of lactoferrin protein were found to exist in the acinar and ductal cells in the 55 Iacnmal gland. This suggests that tear protein secretion disorders might occur in SS lacrimal glands instead of being caused by protein synthesis disorders. We believe this evaluation system might be of use in the examination of synthesis disorders. Additionally, this system might also be able to be used to evaluate the fine details of lacrimal gland dysfunction due to causes such as protein synthesis and/or secretion disorders in severe dry eye (including SS).