Analysis of Lacrimal Gland by Laser Microdissection

描述（由申请人提供）：泪腺功能障碍导致水缺乏性干眼。目前尚无治疗泪腺疾病的方法，有效治疗的进展需要对泪腺功能有透彻的了解。泪腺是一个小管腺泡腺，既有腺泡细胞又有腺泡管。眼睑和跗骨结膜的副泪腺也产生含水泪液。由于其体积小，不易接近，很难与周围组织分离，因此对泪腺管上皮或副腺的功能知之甚少。本研究的目的是探索利用激光捕获显微解剖分离和分析这些细胞类型的可行性。该项目的具体目的是：1)通过激光捕获显微解剖取样大鼠眶外泪腺导管上皮细胞和副泪腺腺泡细胞；2)通过基因微阵列分析比较眶外泪腺导管细胞、眶外腺泡细胞和副泪腺细胞的基因表达；3)筛选在这些细胞类型中表达差异的基因。本研究的结果有望为进一步的研究奠定基础，以阐明导管细胞在泪液分泌和修饰中的作用，并使人们更好地了解副腺体相对于泪腺在泪液分泌中的作用。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Malfunction of the lacrimal glands causes aqueous deficient dry eye. There is presently no treatment for lacrimal gland disease and progress towards development of effective therapy requires a thorough understanding of lacrimal function. The lacrimal gland is a tubulo-acinar gland with both acinar cells and ducts. The accessory lacrimal glands found in the palpebral and tarsal conjunctiva also produce aqueous tears. Little is known about the function of the lacrimal gland duct epithelium or accessory glands because of their small size and inaccessibility which makes it difficult to separate them from surrounding tissue. The purpose of the proposed study is to explore the feasibility of using laser capture microdissection to isolate and analyze these cell types. The specific aims of the project are to: 1) Sample rat exorbital lacrimal gland duct epithelial cells and accessory lacrimal gland acinar cells by laser capture microdissection, 2) compare gene expression among exorbital gland duct cells, exorbital gland acinar cells and accessory gland cells by gene microarray analysis, 3) identify selected genes that are differentially expressed in these cell types. The results of this study are expected to form the basis for further studies that will clarify the role of duct cells in the secretion and modification of lacrimal fluid and also lead to a better understanding of the role of accessory glands as compared to the main lacrimal gland in tear secretion.