Methods and treatments for corneal healing with growth factors

摘要

The invention relates to the use of hepatocyte and keratinocyte growth factors for stimulating the proliferation and motility of corneal cells in vivo and in vitro. Also disclosed is the use of these factors for maintaining the viability of corneal cells during or after ocular surgery and during corneal preservation in storage medium prior to transplant. Polymerase chain reaction amplification has demonstrated that corneal epithelial and endothelial cells in vitro and ex vivo corneal epithelium produce messenger RNA coding for hepatocyte growth factor, hepatocyte growth factor receptor, keratinocyte growth factor, and keratinocyte growth factor receptor. Several growth factors were found to inhibit the differentiation of corneal epithelial cells as measured by decreased expression of keratin K3. Methods for treating ocular dry eye diseases are presented.