This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Corneal fibrosis (opacity and/or scarring) is the final outcome to a variety of corneal disease and a leading cause of blindness. The goal of this project is to determine the potential of multiphoton microscopy as a clinical diagnostic technique in corneal abnormalities. We are using the endogenous cellular fluorescence and a second harmonic signal from collagen fibrils to access the extend of the corneal damage in a K14 PCR 1-17 289 transgenic mice. The mice express a dominant negative Clim 2 (C terminus only) transcription factor that together with another transcription factor LMO4 may play a role in epithelial carcinogenesis. Many transgenic mice are found to develop corneal fibrosis as a result of mutation. In sever cases, an abnormal overgrowth of the stratified squamous epithelium is visually detectable and confirmed by histology. In the moderately affected mice, preliminary multiphoton microscopy finding show dysplasia in the squamous epithelium, irregular collagen arrays in the stroma (looking like air sacs/holes in histology) and a compromised posterior endothelium.
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