KERA

Last update 08 May 2025

Basic Info

Synonyms

CNA2, KERA, Keratan sulfate proteoglycan keratocan

+ [3]

Introduction

May be important in developing and maintaining corneal transparency and for the structure of the stromal matrix.

100 Clinical Results associated with KERA

100 Translational Medicine associated with KERA

0 Patents (Medical) associated with KERA

270

Literatures (Medical) associated with KERA

01 Jul 2025·The Ocular Surface

Essential roles of sensory nerve in maintenance of cornea-phenotype in mice

Article

Author: Sumioka, Takayoshi ; Iwanishi, Hiroki ; Saika, Shizuya ; Liu, Chia-Yang ; Whei-Yang Kao, Winston ; Yasuda, Shingo ; Zhang, Jianhua ; Yuan, Yong ; Okada, Yuka

PURPOSETo the best of our knowledge, no reports have been published on the long-term changes in corneal tissue during the course of neuroparalytic keratopathy caused by destruction of the ophthalmic nerve in experimental animals. To bridge this research gap, we investigated the histopathology of the cornea in mice 3, 12, and 24 months after coagulation of the ophthalmic nerve.METHODSNerves were severely coagulated by inserting an 18-gauge bipolar needle into the skull of C57Bl/6 mice, as previously reported. Mice were sacrificed 3, 12, and 24 months later. Eyes were processed for histological and immunohistochemical analyses to identify the phenotypes of corneal epithelium and stroma.RESULTSAt 3 months after denervation, the affected eyes showed severe inflammation and epithelial damage. In 3-, 14- and 24-month-old corneas, the stroma was found to be hypercellular with stromal neovascularization and keratinized epithelial hyperplasia. Such epithelium no longer expressed keratin 12, but markedly featured keratinization markers. The affected stroma had no keratocan expression, indicating loss of keratocyte cell-type differentiation. Neutrophils, macrophages, and Sox10-positive putative Schwann cells were found distributed in the affected stroma in association with the accumulation of Sonic hedgehog and galectin-3.CONCLUSIONSOphthalmic denervation causes prolonged inflammation lasting up to 2 years, the appearance of repair-type Schwann cells in the stroma, loss of cornea-type differentiation of the epithelium with keratinization, and loss of stroma-specific gene expression. Sonic hedgehog and galectin-3 are upregulated in tissues and thought to be involved in pathology.

01 May 2025·Experimental Eye Research

Riboflavin-UV crosslinking of the cornea: Wound healing and biomechanics

Review

Author: Blackburn, Brecken ; Dupps, William J ; Scarcelli, Giuliano ; Hammoud, Bassel ; Dutra, Barbara A L ; Wilson, Steven E ; Randleman, J Bradley

The corneal wound healing response to Riboflavin-ultraviolet-crosslinking (RIB-UV-CXL) depends on the specific method used in treatment. The predominance of clinical evidence supports the classical "epithelium-off" RIB-UV-CXL method being more effective in halting ectasia progression than various "epithelium-on" methods, where the corneal epithelium is maintained intact. Corneal transparency results from the precise organization of collagen fibrils and extracellular matrix, along with transparent keratocytes. The mild and transient stromal opacity seen after standard RIB-UV-CXL is linked to changes in hydration, cellularity, and matrix composition. As hydration normalizes, opacity arises from the development of corneal fibroblasts and their secretion of disordered extracellular matrix materials including collagens. Over months, as the epithelial basement membrane regenerates, transitioning stromal cells either undergo apoptosis or revert to keratocan-positive keratocytes, restoring stromal transparency. In normal healing after standard RIB-UV-CXL, the stroma is eventually repopulated predominantly by keratocytes without significant persisting fibroblasts, immune cells, or myofibroblasts. Biomechanical studies have extensively explored how CXL strengthens corneal tissue, providing insight into its therapeutic mechanisms. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the wound healing response and biomechanical changes in the cornea following RIB-UV-CXL.

01 May 2025·International Journal of Biological Macromolecules

Thiol-functionalized collagen patch channelizes TGFβ1- JNK trafficking and reverses corneal stroma opacity

Article

Author: Panneerselvam Manimegalai, Nivethitha ; Sekar Jeyakumar, Grace Felciya ; Gunasekaran, Deebasuganya ; Tiruchirapalli Sivagnanam, Uma

Pro-regenerative patches are appealing for cornea injuries owing to their robustness, and ease of use in clinical settings. Collagen-based synthetic patches are building blocks for corneal repair, but their cross-linker toxicity, less optical clarity, and deformation instability remain unresolved. In response to these challenges, the study introduces disulfide crosslinked thiolated collagen patches (CSH). Human umbilical cord collagen (UC) comprises abundant lysine; thus, more primary amines are available for thiolation. UC was thiol functionalized, whereby the degree of amine substitution is 38 %, and a 40.4 % increase in disulfide bonds confirms disulfide-mediated crosslinking. CSH exhibits remarkable biomechanics (3.3 MPa), adhesion strength (107.25 kPa), optical clarity (87 %), and proteolytic resistance compared to native collagen. The patches support sustained levofloxacin release for three days. HET-CAM assay and hemocompatibility confirmed non-irritancy. Ex vivo adhesion, drug permeation, and epithelial integrity validated their compatibility in rabbit eyeballs. In vitro studies in human corneal stromal cells evidence that the thiols mimic endogenous peptides, favoring cell adhesion and proliferation. The patches alleviate the fibrotic episodes by reducing TGFβ1 and vimentin, which attenuates the JNK signaling, leading to elevated expression of corneal clarity restoring proteins, TGFβ3 and Keratocan. Thus, disulfide-bonded collagen patches would be an effective therapeutic modality for stromal injury-associated blindness.

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KERA

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