Development of In-vivo and In-vitro Techniques for the Identification of Mechanism in Environmental Eye Disease Caused by Exposure of Fine Particles (PM10, PM2.5)

초록

Air pollution related to airborne particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5) is one of the most important environmental issues in South Korea. In the severe days of PM10 and PM2.5 pollution, it is known to increase the incidence of dry eye syndrome and allergic conjunctivitis with inflammation and foreign body sensation of eyes. However, there is few scientific research on the environmental eye disease caused by the exposure to fine particles around the world. The aim of this study is to identify the mechanism and biomarker of environmental eye disease caused by the exposure to airborne PM using cell and animal experiment models and to estimate the prevalence rates and incidence rates of eye diseases related to fine PM concentration. We are carrying out In?vivo/vitro study to answer the effect of PM on environmental eye diseases. To establish in-vitro model for this study, corneal epithelial cells are used either in presence or absence of fibroblast-embedded collagen layers. Cell monolayers and co-cultures are exposed to different types of fine particles. The effects of PM exposure are evaluated on cell viability, inflammatory response, and cellular barrier function. And the aim of In-vivo study is to evaluate the immunopathogenic effects of fine particles exposure on the ocular surface and drainage lymph nodes through ocular surface staining, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometric analysis. For fine particles exposure of in-vivo study, there are used the animal eye-only test chamber method as well as the existing eye dropping method. In addition, specific biomarkers on airborne PM induced ocular diseases will also be explored with microarray and luminex analysis. This study was funded by the Korea Ministry of Environment (MOE) as ‘‘the Environmental Health Action Program(2016001360005).’’