Lacrimal gland transplantation for improvement of the gland function

本研究最初旨在探讨泪腺移植作为治疗严重干眼，诱发西格伦综合征（SS）的可能性。自体泪腺移植的手术方法尚未建立，移植泪腺的浓度和功能也未在任何动物模型研究中得到评价。为建立泪腺功能评价体系，采用乳铁蛋白（LACTOPLATE TM， JDC）定量法测定泪液中的乳铁蛋白。用抗人乳铁蛋白免疫染色法检测55岁（有文献记载，这些患者的泪腺蛋白和分泌量较少）和非ss （NSS）患者泪腺中的乳铁蛋白。该抗体已被用于评价泪腺的功能。先前的病例研究表明，包括55例在内的严重日眼患者的泪液乳铁蛋白明显低于NSS日眼患者。我们用上述抗乳铁蛋白抗体证实了这个泪腺评估系统的结果。此外，在腺腺的腺泡和导管细胞中发现了相对高浓度的乳铁蛋白。提示泪蛋白分泌障碍可能发生在SS泪腺中，而不是由蛋白质合成障碍引起的。我们相信该评价系统可用于综合障碍的检查。此外，该系统还可用于评估严重干眼（包括SS）中由于蛋白质合成和/或分泌紊乱等原因导致的泪腺功能障碍的细节。

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).