Yes / In the study of microbial keratitis, in vivo animal models often require a large number of animals, and in vitro monolayer cell culture does not maintain the three-dimensional structure of the tissues or cell-to-cell communication of in vivo models. Here, we propose reproducible ex vivo models of single- and dual-infection keratitis as an alternative to in vivo and in vitro models. / Wellcome Trust

Submitted by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2018-05-16T11:00:44Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Artur Christian Garcia da Silva - 2018.pdf: 3769532 bytes, checksum: e167ec43ef90135ed1fc8434ff29e2b3 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2018-05-16T11:01:38Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Artur Christian Garcia da Silva - 2018.pdf: 3769532 bytes, checksum: e167ec43ef90135ed1fc8434ff29e2b3 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-05-16T11:01:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Artur Christian Garcia da Silva - 2018.pdf: 3769532 bytes, checksum: e167ec43ef90135ed1fc8434ff29e2b3 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-03-27 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Introduction: Cosmetic products eye toxicity assessment has been performed worldwide using alternative methods since animal testing has been banished for this purpose in many countries. In this context, reconstructed epithelial models have been used internationally for these evaluations, which are not available in Brazil due bureaucratic issues that limit their acquisition and use in national territory. Objective: In this work, an evaluation platform based on cellular inflammatory changes caused by exposure to eye irritants was proposed, as well as the development of a biomimetic corneal model from human keratinocytes, which was characterized and evaluated for applicability in ocular toxicity studies. Methods: Inflammatory profile of HaCat keratinocytes was determined after exposure to 13 different chemicals with different classification for ocular irritation (irritants and non-irritants) using Cytometric Bead Array (CBA) and ELISA methods. 3D models were obtained by cultivating HaCat cell line onto a collagen type I matrix, in air-liquid interface for five days. Morphological characterization was carried out through Hematoxylin-eosin staining and corneal epithelial biomarkers expression was assessed using indirect immunofluorescence. Predictive capacity assessment was performed by exposure of model to test substances with subsequently tissue viability assessment. Finally, applicability of system was verified by testing five marketed eyebrow Henna samples which were considered non-irritants due the lack of adequate labelling. Results and Discussion: A qualitative and quantitative correlation was established regarding the HaCat cells inflammatory profile and eye irritation degree of evaluated substances. The epithelial model presented similar morphology and biomarkers expression patterns similar to the found in human corneal epithelium, so that tissue viability after exposure to test substances reduced proportionately to the irritant potential of them. Furthermore, 3D model classified four of the five evaluated Henna samples as moderate or mild irritants. Conclusion: The developed epithelial model presented morphological and functional properties similar to those founded in human corneal epithelium, which enabled the distinction between irritants and non-irritants and it is also applicable to the investigation of botanical mixtures ocular toxicity potential. / Introdução: A avaliação da toxicidade ocular de produtos cosméticos tem sido mundialmente realizada mediante a utilização de métodos alternativos desde que a experimentação animal foi proibida para esse fim em muitos países. Nesse contexto, os modelos epiteliais reconstruídos têm sido internacionalmente utilizados para essa finalidade, os quais não encontram-se disponíveis no Brasil por questões burocráticas que limitam a importação e utilização dos mesmos no território nacional. Objetivo: Neste estudo, foram propostos uma plataforma de avaliação baseada em alterações celulares inflamatórias ocasionadas pela exposição a agentes irritantes oculares, bem como o desenvolvimento de um modelo biomimético de córnea a partir de queratinócitos humanos, o qual foi caracterizado e avaliado quanto à aplicabilidade para aplicação em estudos de toxicidade ocular. Metodologia: O perfil inflamatório dos queratinócitos HaCat foi determinado após exposição à 13 diferentes substâncias químicas, com diferentes perfis de irritação ocular (irritantes e não irritantes), por meio das técnicas de Cytometric Bead Array (CBA) e ELISA. Os modelos 3D foram obtidos mediante o cultivo da linhagem HaCat sobre uma matriz de colágeno tipo I, em interface ar-líquido por cinco dias. A caracterização morfológica do modelo foi realizada por meio de coloração com Hematoxilina-eosina e a expressão de biomarcadores do tecido epitelial da córnea utilizando-se imunofluorescência indireta. A avaliação da capacidade preditiva do modelo foi realizada mediante exposição deste às substâncias supracitadas, com posterior avaliação da viabilidade tecidual. Por fim, a aplicabilidade do sistema para avaliação de misturas foi verificada avaliando-se cinco amostras de Hena de sobrancelha comercializadas, sendo consideradas não irritantes pela ausência de rotulagem adequada. Resultados e discussão: Foi estabelecida correlação qualitativa e quantitativa em relação ao perfil inflamatório e à severidade das substâncias teste avaliadas. O modelo desenvolvido apresentou morfologia e expressão de biomarcadores semelhantes aos padrões encontrados na córnea humana, de modo que a viabilidade tecidual após a exposição às substâncias reduziu de maneira diretamente proporcional ao potencial irritante das mesmas. Ademais, das cinco amostras de Hena avaliadas, o modelo classificou quatro como irritantes moderados ou leves. Conclusão: O modelo epitelial desenvolvido apresentou características morfológicas e funcionais semelhantes às da córnea humana, permitindo a distinção entre substâncias irritantes e não irritantes, sendo também aplicável à investigação da toxicidade ocular de misturas botânicas.

Certaines brûlures oculaires graves ou d'autres pathologies oculaires rares peuvent être associées à une perte totale de cellules souches épithéliales de la cornée (DCSL), ce qui conduit à une opacification de la cornée par invasion de la conjonctive. Lorsque la DCSL est totale et bilatérale, le limbe controlatéral n'est pas disponible pour la greffe de limbe autologue ou la culture de cellules souches autologues limbiques et la transplantation allogénique de la cornée est impossible car toujours rejetée en raison de la néovascularisation. Une thérapie innovante testée avec succès au sein de notre laboratoire, en collaboration avec le service d'ophtalmologie des HCL, consiste en une greffe autologue de Feuillet Epithélial (FE) dérivé de Muqueuse Orale (MO). Cette approche permet de restaurer la transparence et autorise, si nécessaire, une greffe cornéenne complémentaire. Cette technique a montré son efficacité lors d'un essai clinique conduit dans notre hôpital mais le dispositif breveté permettant le détachement non enzymatique des feuillets cultivés n'est plus disponible en Europe. Nous avons donc mis au point un nouveau procédé de production de FE dérivant de la MO dont la preuve de concept a été obtenue à partir d'études in-vitro et ex-vivo. En effet, un détachement avec 0,5 mg / mL de collagénase n'endommage pas le FE de MO et les protéines de la membrane basale, et, dans un modèle de stroma porcin exvivo, ces feuillets adhérents au stroma, continuent à se renouveler sous la forme d'épithélium différencié. De plus, dans le cas d'une opacité stromale associée à une DCSL, une greffe secondaire de cornée est nécessaire pour améliorer l'Acuité Visuelle (AV), c'est pourquoi nous avons cherché à développer pour ces patients à haut risque de rejet, un stroma décellularisé. Ce stroma pourrait également répondre à la pénurie de cornées dans les pays en voie de développement grâce à sa conservation longue et facile. La lyophilisation a été combinée à la décellularisation des cornées au SDS à 0,1 %, validée sur les cornées humaines sur le maintien de leur transparence et de l'ultrastructure du stroma associé à l'absence des antigènes HLA-ABC et HLA-DR. Enfin, dans un modèle de Kératoplastie Lamellaire Antérieure Profonde (KLAP) ex-vivo, nous avons montré que les cellules épithéliales et stromales de la cornée humaine receveuse colonise le stroma décellularisé. Ainsi, nos travaux permettent de proposer un traitement des DSCL totales et bilatérales associées ou non à une atteinte du stroma / Some severe ocular burns or other rare ocular pathologies may be associated with a complete loss of corneal epithelial stem cells (LSCD), leading to an opacification of the cornea by invasion of the conjunctiva. When DCSL is total and bilateral, contralateral limbus is not available for autologous limb transplant or limbal autologous stem cell culture, and allogeneic transplantation of the cornea is not an option since neovascularization is constantly responsible for graft rejection. An innovative therapy tested with success in our laboratory, in collaboration with the ophthalmology department of the HCL, consists in an autologous Epithelial Cell Sheet (ECS) graft derived from Oral Mucosa (MO). This approach restores transparency and allows in a second step a complementary corneal graft when necessary. This technique has been shown to be effective in a clinical trial conducted in our hospital, but the patented device for the non-enzymatic detachment of cultivated ECS is no longer available in Europe. We have therefore developed a new method for the production of ECS from OM, the proof of concept of which has been obtained from in-vitro and ex-vivo studies. Indeed, detachment with 0.5 mg / mL of collagenase does not damage ECS from OM and basement membrane proteins, and in an ex-vivo porcine stroma model, these cell sheets adhered on corneal stroma, continued to self-renew and generated a differentiated epithelium. Since stromal opacity associated with DCSL requires a secondary corneal graft to improve Visual Acuity (VA), we also sought to develop for these patients with high rejection risk, a new approach for the generation of decellularized stroma. Such a procedure for the production of decellularized stroma was also aimed at allowing a money-saving and reliable long-term storage for stromal grafts and thus circumventing the shortage of corneas in developing countries. Our process, combining lyophilization with decellularization of the corneas at 0.1 % SDS, was validated on human corneas regarding the maintenance of stroma transparency, the stromal ultrastructure associated with the absence of HLA-ABC and HLA-DR antigens. Finally, in an ex-vivo model of Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty (DALK), we have shown that the epithelial and stromal cells of the recipient human cornea colonized efficiently the decellularised stroma. Overall, our work makes it possible to propose a treatment for total and bilateral LSCD associated or not with lesions of the stroma