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症。目前还没有治疗泪腺疾病的方法，有效治疗的发展需要对泪腺功能的全面了解。泪腺是一个既有腺泡细胞又有导管的管状腺泡腺。眼睑结膜和睑板结膜中的副泪腺也产生水状泪液。泪腺导管上皮或附属腺的功能知之甚少，因为它们的体积小，难以接近，这使得难以将它们与周围组织分离。本研究的目的是探讨利用激光捕获显微切割技术分离和分析这些细胞类型的可行性。本项目的具体目标是：1）通过激光捕获显微切割技术对大鼠眶外泪腺导管上皮细胞和副泪腺腺泡细胞进行取样，2）通过基因芯片分析比较眶外泪腺导管细胞、眶外泪腺泡细胞和副泪腺细胞的基因表达，3）鉴定在这些细胞类型中差异表达的选定基因。这项研究的结果预计将形成进一步研究的基础，将澄清导管细胞在泪液分泌和修改的作用，也导致更好地了解副腺的作用相比，主泪腺在泪液分泌。

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.