Purpose

This study aimed to analyze the differences in the expression of pain-related genes in conjunctival epithelial cells among symptomatic contact lens (CL) wearers (SCLWs), asymptomatic CL wearers (ACLWs), and non-CL wearers (non-CLWs).

Methods

For this study, 60 participants (20 non-CLWs, 40 CLWs) were enrolled. The CLW group comprised 20 ACLWs and 20 SCLWs according to the Contact Lens Dry Eye Questionnaire short form©. Conjunctival cells were collected using impression cytology, and RNA was isolated and used to determine the expression levels of 85 human genes involved in neuropathic and inflammatory pain. The effects of CL wear and discomfort were evaluated using mixed-effects ANOVA with partially nested fixed-effects model. Gene set enrichment analysis was performed to assign biological meaning to sets of differentially expressed genes.

Results

Six genes (CD200, EDN1, GRIN1, PTGS1, P2RX7, and TNF) were significantly upregulated in CLWs compared to non-CLWs. Eleven genes (ADORA1, BDKRB1, CACNA1B, DBH, GRIN1, GRM1, HTR1A, PDYN, PTGS1, P2RX3, and TNF) were downregulated in SCLWs compared to ACLWs. These genes were mainly related to pain, synaptic transmission and signaling, ion transport, calcium transport and concentration, and cell-cell signaling.

Conclusions

CL wear modified the expression of pain- and inflammation-related genes in conjunctival epithelial cells. These changes may be in part, along with other mechanisms, responsible for CL discomfort in SCLWs.

中文翻译：

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与隐形眼镜佩戴和不适相关的结膜细胞基因表达变化

目的

本研究旨在分析有症状隐形眼镜（CL）佩戴者（SCLW）、无症状CL佩戴者（ACLW）和非CL佩戴者（non-CLW）结膜上皮细胞中疼痛相关基因表达的差异。

方法

本研究共招募了 60 名参与者（20 名非 CLW，40 名 CLW）。根据隐形眼镜干眼问卷简表©，CLW 小组由 20 名 ACLW 和 20 名 SCLW 组成。使用印迹细胞学收集结膜细胞，分离 RNA 并用于测定与神经性疼痛和炎性疼痛有关的 85 个人类基因的表达水平。使用混合效应方差分析和部分嵌套固定效应模型评估 CL 磨损和不适的影响。进行基因集富集分析以赋予差异表达基因集生物学意义。

结果

与非 CLW 相比，CLW 中的6 个基因（CD200、EDN1、GRIN1、PTGS1、P2RX7和TNF ）显着上调。与 ACLW 相比，SCLW 中有11 个基因（ADORA1、BDKRB1、CACNA1B、DBH、GRIN1、GRM1、HTR1A、PDYN、PTGS1、P2RX3和TNF ）下调。这些基因主要与疼痛、突触传递和信号传导、离子转运、钙转运和浓度以及细胞间信号传导有关。

结论

CL 佩戴改变了结膜上皮细胞中疼痛和炎症相关基因的表达。这些变化与其他机制一起可能在一定程度上导致了 SCLW 的 CL 不适。