Corneal keratocyte

Corneal keratocytes are specialized fibroblasts residing in the stroma. This is the thickest layer of the cornea. Corneal keratocytes are involved in the maintenance of corneal transparency and thickness.

Function

Corneal keratocytes are responsible for the production and maintenance of the extracellular matrix of the corneal stroma. They produce collagen and proteoglycans, which are essential for the structural integrity and transparency of the cornea.

Structure

Corneal keratocytes are elongated cells that are interconnected by gap junctions. They are located between the collagen lamellae in the stroma. The cells have a small amount of cytoplasm and are rich in rough endoplasmic reticulum, indicating their high protein synthesis activity.

Role in disease

Corneal keratocytes play a crucial role in corneal wound healing. After an injury, they can transform into repair phenotypes, such as fibroblasts and myofibroblasts, which are involved in wound closure and scar formation. However, excessive or prolonged activation of these cells can lead to corneal opacity and vision loss.

See also

• Cornea
• Corneal stroma
• Fibroblast
• Proteoglycan
• Collagen

References

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