Desiccating Stress Decreases Apical Corneal Epithelial Cell Size-Modulation by the Metalloproteinase Inhibitor Doxycycline

Abstract

Desiccating stress decreases apical corneal epithelial cell area, increases apical cell density, and promotes epithelial cell loss. Treatment with the metalloproteinase inhibitor doxycycline during desiccating stress preserves cell area and apical cell density and prevents EDE-induced corneal epithelial cell loss. These findings suggest that metalloproteinases mediate apical corneal epithelial loss during desiccating stress.