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Croatian Medical Journal Oct 2023To assess sex-related differences in the pathohistological features of the human lacrimal gland and to investigate age-related and sex-related differences in... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
AIM
To assess sex-related differences in the pathohistological features of the human lacrimal gland and to investigate age-related and sex-related differences in stereologically measured volume density of the secretory tissue, connective tissue, and fat.
METHODS
We performed an observational analysis of acinar atrophy, periacinar fibrosis, periductal fibrosis, ductal dilation, ductal proliferation, fatty infiltration, and lymphocyte infiltration of hematoxylin and eosin-stained lacrimal gland samples from 81 cornea donors. Stereological analysis of the volume density of the secretory tissue, connective tissue, and fat was performed on samples from 66 donors.
RESULTS
Up to 69% of all samples showed degenerative changes. Female samples had a higher frequency of all observed degenerative changes, except ductal dilation. While acinar atrophy was significantly more prevalent in women, ductal dilation was significantly more prevalent in men. Stereological analysis indicated lower portions of acini and higher portions of connective tissue and fat, as well as a more pronounced age-related progression of degenerative changes in female samples.
CONCLUSION
Female lacrimal glands are more susceptible to degeneration, and this susceptibility could play an important role in the higher incidence of dry eye disease in older women. A further stereological analysis using more samples from younger age groups is needed to elucidate age-related and sex-related differences in the structure of the human lacrimal gland and their impact on dry eye disease.
Topics: Aged; Female; Humans; Male; Aging; Atrophy; Dry Eye Syndromes; Fibrosis; Lacrimal Apparatus
PubMed: 37927184
DOI: 10.3325/cmj.2023.64.307 -
Postgraduate Medical Journal Aug 1970In 5529 new patients attending eye clinics 0·8% of patients were found to have endogenous uveitis. None had radiographic evidence of sarcoidosis. Of thirty-four who had...
In 5529 new patients attending eye clinics 0·8% of patients were found to have endogenous uveitis. None had radiographic evidence of sarcoidosis. Of thirty-four who had a Mantoux test 56% were negative. A Kveim test done on twenty-four of the cases revealed that 12·5% were positive, and in two of these histological evidence of sarcoidosis was found. Eighty-two patients with multisystem sarcoidosis were similarly investigated and in addition their lachrymal secretion was measured. Of these twelve (14·6%) had an ocular lesion, six having bilateral uveitis, two unilateral uveitis and four lachrymal gland enlargement. 58% of these cases were found to have reduced lachrymal secretion. In addition fifty-seven of these patients without ocular abnormality had their lachrymal secretion measured and 49% of these were found to have reduced lachrymal secretion.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Child; Female; Humans; Lacrimal Apparatus; Male; Middle Aged; Sarcoidosis; Uveitis
PubMed: 5481100
DOI: 10.1136/pgmj.46.538.501 -
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual... Jul 2023The existing treatment options for dry eye disease (DED) due to lacrimal gland (LG) dysfunction are mainly palliative. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) based therapies and...
PURPOSE
The existing treatment options for dry eye disease (DED) due to lacrimal gland (LG) dysfunction are mainly palliative. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) based therapies and 3D-LG organoids have been explored as a curative option for LG regeneration in animal models. Human LG epithelial cultures are previously established and, here, we aim to isolate and characterize the spindle-shaped cells obtained from primary human LG cultures in order to unveil its MSC property.
METHODS
Normal human lacrimal glands were obtained from individuals undergoing LG debulking surgery. The conditions for human LG-MSC culture were standardized to obtain pure population of LG-MSCs at passage 3. Population doubling time (PDT), expression of phenotypic markers, tri-lineage differentiation, colony forming potential, and gene expression analysis were carried out to assess the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics compared to bone marrow-MSCs (BM-MSCs).
RESULTS
Our data show that these spindle-shaped cells exhibit similar phenotypic expression, colony-forming ability, and trilineage differentiation like BM-MSCs. Moreover, the gene expression also did not show any significant difference, except for increased IL1-β in LG-MSCs. The LG-MSCs do not express any lacrimal epithelial markers unlike LG tissue.
CONCLUSIONS
This study reveals the first-time evidence for the presence of MSC population within the human LGs, and these cells might play a role in maintaining healthy microenvironment within normal LG and repair in diseased LGs.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Lacrimal Apparatus; Mesenchymal Stem Cells; Dry Eye Syndromes; Bone Marrow; Epithelial Cells; Cell Differentiation; Cells, Cultured; Bone Marrow Cells; Cell Proliferation
PubMed: 37440263
DOI: 10.1167/iovs.64.10.12 -
Canadian Journal of Veterinary Research... Jan 2022The objective of this study was to describe the histological and histochemical characteristics of the lacrimal glands of beluga whales. The study was carried out on the...
The objective of this study was to describe the histological and histochemical characteristics of the lacrimal glands of beluga whales. The study was carried out on the formalin-fixed ocular globes from 96 carcasses of beluga whales found stranded in the St. Lawrence estuary in Quebec, Canada. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained slides from the eyes of each whale were examined for lacrimal glands. Histological description was done with H&E and Masson Trichrome (MT) stains. Period Acid-Schiff (PAS), Alcian blue (AB) pH 1.0 and 2.5, and High Iron Diamine (HID) stains were used for histochemical characterization of glycoproteins. Thirteen ocular samples from animals ranging from neonate to 48 y included sections of lacrimal glands. The H&E stain revealed a tubuloalveolar gland architecture, separated into lobules by dense connective tissue. Each lobule contained a mixture of acini and tubules with ductules. Small and large acini were composed of low and tall columnar cells, respectively. Acinar cells contained basophilic cytoplasmic granules. The ductules were lined with a bi-layered cuboidal-to-squamous epithelium. The MT stain highlighted the connective tissue separating ductules and acini. Large acini were positive for PAS and some small acini had patchy uptake. Positive staining for AB pH 1.0 and 2.5 was mainly seen in tall columnar cells as compared to small acini that had faint to no stain uptake. High Iron Diamine stain revealed 90% staining of all acinar cells, with 10% exhibiting a mixed blue-black tinge. It was concluded that the lacrimal glands of beluga whales have similar histological and histochemical findings to those of artiodactyla and carnivora orders.
Topics: Animals; Beluga Whale; Coloring Agents; Diamines; Iron; Lacrimal Apparatus
PubMed: 34975225
DOI: No ID Found -
Acta Ophthalmologica Nov 2013Tumours of the lacrimal gland are rare, but the prognosis may be grave. To date, no population-based incidence and distribution data on lacrimal gland tumours exist. In...
Tumours of the lacrimal gland are rare, but the prognosis may be grave. To date, no population-based incidence and distribution data on lacrimal gland tumours exist. In addition, almost nothing is known about the genetic profile of epithelial tumours of the lacrimal gland. We collected specimens and clinical files on all biopsied lacrimal gland lesions in Denmark over a 34-year period and re-evaluated the diagnosis to provide updated population-based incidence rates and epidemiological characteristics. Clinical data regarding symptoms, clinical examinations, treatment and follow-up were collected for patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC), pleomorphic adenoma (PA), carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma (Ca-ex-PA) and mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC). Using RT-PCR, FISH, immunohistochemistry, Q-PCR and high-resolution array-based comparative genomic hybridization (arrayCGH) we explored the genetic characteristics including copy number alterations (CNA) in ACC, PA, Ca-ex-PA and MEC. The incidence of biopsied lacrimal gland lesions was 1.3/1,000,000/year, and ~50% were neoplastic lesions. Of these, 55% were malignant tumours with epithelial tumours as the most frequent. The overall incidence was increasing, and this was caused by an increase in biopsied non-neoplastic lesions. We found that 10/14 ACCs either expressed the MYB-NFIB fusion gene and/or had rearrangements of MYB. All ACCs expressed the MYB protein. ACC was characterized by recurrent copy number losses involving 6q, 12q and 17q and gains involving 19q, 8q and 11q. ArrayCGH revealed an apparently normal genomic profile in 11/19 PAs. The remaining 8 PAs had recurrent copy number losses involving 1p, 6q, 8q and 13q and gain involving 9p. PA expressed PLAG1 in all tumours whereas only 2/29 tumours expressed HMGA2. Ca-ex-PA was characterized by recurrent copy number gain involving 22q. PLAG1 was expressed in 3/5 Ca-ex-PA whereas none of these tumours expressed HMGA2. MEC expressed the CRTC1-MAML2, and this fusion was found to be tumour-specific for lacrimal gland MEC. In conclusion, lacrimal gland lesions that require pathological evaluation are rare in the Danish population, and the incidence rate of biopsied benign lesions is increasing. Epithelial tumours of the lacrimal gland are molecularly very similar to their salivary gland counterparts in the expression of the tumour-specific fusion genes and in their genomic imbalances as demonstrated by arrayCGH. MYB-NFIB is a useful biomarker for ACC and MYB, and its downstream target genes may be potential therapeutic targets for these tumours.
Topics: Adenoma, Pleomorphic; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biomarkers, Tumor; Biopsy; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic; Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid; Child; Child, Preschool; Denmark; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Incidence; Lacrimal Apparatus; Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases; Male; Middle Aged; Orbital Neoplasms; Prognosis; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; Young Adult
PubMed: 24893972
DOI: 10.1111/aos.12271 -
BMJ Open Ophthalmology Aug 2022Medial eyelid tumours may result in the loss of the proximal lacrimal system during staged excision and delayed reconstruction, to achieve tumour margin clearance. The...
OBJECTIVE
Medial eyelid tumours may result in the loss of the proximal lacrimal system during staged excision and delayed reconstruction, to achieve tumour margin clearance. The remnant canaliculus was marsupialised during reconstruction. The aim was to understand how many patients experienced symptomatic epiphora as a consequence of this.
METHODS AND ANALYSIS
A retrospective study including patients over a 15-year period with medial eyelid tumours, where the proximal lacrimal system was sacrificed to achieve tumour margin clearance. Included were all who had marsupialisation of the remnant distal stump as part of their delayed reconstruction. All who had pre-existing epiphora were excluded. The primary objective was the rate of epiphora following the procedure. A systematic literature review of postoperative epiphora occurring in patients with lid tumours requiring lacrimal system injury/sacrifice during tumour excision.
RESULTS
There were 22 eyes (22 patients). All were basal cell carcinomas except for 1 (4.5%) tarsal conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma. All cases involved the lower lid. There were two (9.1%) patients who developed epiphora. One patient underwent a superior three-snip punctoplasty, botulinum toxin to the lacrimal gland and conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy with Lester Jones tube insertion. The other patient was not overly troubled and did not require further treatment. The literature review showed the median postoperative rate of epiphora in these patients was 12.5% (range 0%-100%).
CONCLUSION
Marsupialisation of the remnant canaliculus during delayed reconstruction is a straightforward and effective surgical option, which may help prevent postreconstruction epiphora when the proximal lacrimal system is sacrificed for tumour margin clearance.
TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER
10391.
Topics: Botulinum Toxins; Eyelid Neoplasms; Humans; Lacrimal Apparatus; Lacrimal Duct Obstruction; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 36161857
DOI: 10.1136/bmjophth-2022-000985 -
Experimental Eye Research May 2006The lacrimal gland is the main contributor to the aqueous layer of the tear film. It secretes proteins, electrolytes and water, which helps to nourish and protect the... (Review)
Review
The lacrimal gland is the main contributor to the aqueous layer of the tear film. It secretes proteins, electrolytes and water, which helps to nourish and protect the ocular surface. Lacrimal gland secretion is primarily under neural control, which is achieved through a neural reflex arc. Stimuli to the ocular surface activate afferent sensory nerves in the cornea and conjunctiva. This in turn activates efferent parasympathetic and sympathetic nerves in the lacrimal gland to stimulate secretion. Sex steroid hormones are also important regulators of lacrimal gland functions. A decrease or lack of lacrimal gland secretion is the leading cause of aqueous tear deficient dry eye syndrome (DES). It has been suggested that DES is an inflammatory disorder that affects the ocular surface and the lacrimal gland. In several pathological instances, the lacrimal gland can become a target of the immune system and show signs of inflammation. This can result from autoimmune diseases (Sjögren's syndrome), organ transplantation (graft versus host disease), or simply as a result of aging. The hallmarks of lacrimal gland inflammation are the presence of focal lymphocytic infiltrates and increased production of proinflammatory cytokines. The mechanisms leading to lacrimal gland dysfunction are still poorly understood. Apoptosis, production of autoantibodies, hormonal imbalance, alterations in signaling molecules, neural dysfunction, and increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines have been proposed as possible mediators of lacrimal gland insufficiency in disease states.
Topics: Animals; Autoimmunity; Autonomic Nervous System; Cytokines; Dacryocystitis; Dry Eye Syndromes; Humans; Inflammation Mediators; Lacrimal Apparatus; Mice; Signal Transduction; Sjogren's Syndrome
PubMed: 16309672
DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2005.10.018 -
PloS One 2015Dry eye disease can be a consequence of lacrimal gland insufficiency in Sjögren's Syndrome or increased tear film evaporation despite normal lacrimal gland function. To...
Dry eye disease can be a consequence of lacrimal gland insufficiency in Sjögren's Syndrome or increased tear film evaporation despite normal lacrimal gland function. To determine if there is a correlation between severity effects in these models and underlying pathophysiological responses, we compared the time dependent changes in each of these parameters that occur during a 6 week period. Dry eye was induced in 6-week-old female C57BL/6 mice by exposing them to an Intelligently Controlled Environmental System (ICES). Sixty mice were housed in ICES for 1, 2, 4 and 6 weeks respectively. Twelve were raised in normal environment and received subcutaneous injections of scopolamine hydrobromide (SCOP) 3 times daily for 5 days. Another sixty mice were housed in a normal environment and received no treatment. Corneal fluorescein staining along with corneal MMP-9 and caspase-3 level measurements were performed in parallel with the TUNEL assay. Interleukin-17(IL-17), IL-23, IL-6, IL-1, TNF-α, IFN-γ and TGF-β2 levels were estimated by real-time PCR measurements of conjunctival and lacrimal gland samples (LGs). Immunohistochemistry of excised LGs along with flow cytometry in cervical lymph nodes evaluated immune cell infiltration. Light and transmission electron microscopy studies evaluated LGs cytoarchitectural changes. ICES induced corneal epithelial destruction and apoptosis peaked at 2 weeks and kept stable in the following 4 weeks. In the ICES group, lacrimal gland proinflammatory cytokine level increases were much lower than those in the SCOP group. In accord with the lower proinflammatory cytokine levels, in the ICES group, lacrimal gland cytosolic vesicular density and size exceeded that in the SCOP group. ICES and SCOP induced murine dry eye effects became progressively more severe over a two week period. Subsequently, the disease process stabilized for the next four weeks. ICES induced local effects in the ocular surface, but failed to elicit lacrimal gland inflammation and cytoarchitectural changes, which accounts for less dry eye severity in the ICES model than that in the SCOP model.
Topics: Animals; Caspase 3; Cytokines; Disease Models, Animal; Dry Eye Syndromes; Eye; Female; Lacrimal Apparatus; Mice; Tears
PubMed: 25590134
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0115333 -
BMC Ophthalmology Aug 2022We aimed to assess the efficacy of the injections of platelet rich plasma (PRP) for the treatment of severe dry eye disease (DED).
BACKGROUND
We aimed to assess the efficacy of the injections of platelet rich plasma (PRP) for the treatment of severe dry eye disease (DED).
RESULTS
In this retrospecitve interventional clinincal study, we included 28 eyes of 14 patients with severe DED who were diagnosed with Sjogren syndrome. Each patient received unilateral lacrimal gland injection of PRP at days 0, 30, 60 and 90 days while the other eye served as control group who received preservative free eye drops. We objectively assessed parameters at baseline, 1 month, 2 months and 3 months including ocular surface analyzer (OSA) namely; noninvasive tear breakup times (NIBUT), tear meniscus height (TMH), lipid layer thickness (LLT) in addition to the Schirmer test I, corneal fluorescein staining (CFS) and meiboscore. The mean age was 43.4 ± .7.85 years. Comparing different parameters, baseline data showed non-significant difference between injected eye group and control group. After 1 and 3 months of follow up, there were significant differences between both groups regarding NITBUT, TMH, LLT, CFS and Schirmer test, with p < 0.001 in favor of PRP group.
CONCLUSION
Injection of PRP in lacrimal gland is simple, safe, and effective technique in treatment of severe dry eye; proved by improvement of tear film parameters through subjective and objective assessment. Further studies are needed to standardize the technique and to confirm these results.
Topics: Adult; Dry Eye Syndromes; Fluorescein; Humans; Lacrimal Apparatus; Platelet-Rich Plasma; Tears
PubMed: 35964112
DOI: 10.1186/s12886-022-02554-0 -
Medical Science Monitor : International... Mar 2021BACKGROUND Lacrimal gland pleomorphic adenoma (LGPA) is the most common clinically benign epithelial tumor of the lacrimal gland and is predominantly comprised of...
Retrospective Analysis of Clinicopathological Characteristics of Lacrimal Gland Pleomorphic Adenoma and Mechanism of Tumorigenesis by the Imbalance Between Apoptosis and Proliferation.
BACKGROUND Lacrimal gland pleomorphic adenoma (LGPA) is the most common clinically benign epithelial tumor of the lacrimal gland and is predominantly comprised of epithelial cells and interstitial components. At present, the exact pathogenesis of LGPA remains unclear. Previous research has indicated that the occurrence of LGPA may be related to excessive cell proliferation. MATERIAL AND METHODS This study observed the clinicopathological characteristics of LGPA and investigated the tumorigenesis mechanism of cell over-proliferation caused by the imbalance between apoptosis and proliferation. A total of 27 cases were collected from the Department of Ophthalmology of the Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical University and the Third Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from April 2017 to November 2019. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and immunohistochemical staining were used to observe the pathological characteristics and analyze the expression of bcl-2 and bax in the lacrimal gland. RESULTS Compared with normal lacrimal gland tissues, LGPA tumor tissues had obvious changes in pathological morphology. The expression of bcl-2 in LGPA lesion tissues was dramatically higher (P<0.001), the expression of bax was not significantly different between groups (P=0.25), but the ratio of bcl-2/bax was significantly higher in tumor tissues (P=0.01). CONCLUSIONS We found that the lacrimal gland tumor tissues had obvious excessive proliferation in pathomorphology, which revealed the necessity of complete surgical removal of the capsule from the perspective of pathological morphology and provided a theoretical basis for the hypothesis that the imbalance between apoptosis and proliferation could lead to cell hyperproliferation.
Topics: Adenoma, Pleomorphic; Adult; Apoptosis; Carcinogenesis; Cell Proliferation; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; Eye Neoplasms; Female; Humans; Lacrimal Apparatus; Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; Retrospective Studies; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; bcl-2-Associated X Protein
PubMed: 33737504
DOI: 10.12659/MSM.929152