The proportional Changes of Tear Proteins in the Dry Eye Patients

It is well studied about the composition of tear and it`s function, but not about the proportion of tear proteins in the dry eye, in which tear volume is reduced and tear film is unstable. Therefore, we performed this study to determine the proportion of tear proteins. This study involved 150 subjects, 50 volunteers and 100 outpatients who visited Ophthalmologic department from January to December in 1997. Dry eye was classified into mild and severe dry eyes. Four fractions of tear protein were demonstrated by electrophoresis. The proportion of tear proteins in fraction 1 to 4 were 31.0+/-5.9%(mean+/-standard deviation), 2.9+/-1.3%, 40.8+/-5.5%, 25.2+/-5.2%, in control group, 33.4+/-7.1%, 3.4+/-3.0%, 41.6+/-7.7%, 21.5+/-4.8% in mild dry eye group, 37.5+/-11.4%, 3.2+/-2.2%, 40.3+/-9.1%, 19.5+/-5.3% in severe dry eye group respectively. With severty of the dry eye, the proportion of fraction 1 was increased and the proportion of fraction 4 was decreased, both of which were statistically significant difference(P<0.01). In proportion to the severity of dry eye, the proportion of tear proteins became unstable. For the diagnosis and management of the dry eye,we consider the supplement of the decreased portion of tear proteins.

The Analysis of Human Tear Proteins Using Protein Electrophoresis

The proportion of tear proteins is different markedly in various ocular diseases, so its measurement may be of considerable diagnostic value in certain ocular conditions. We studied prospectively proportion of tear proteins in 50 normal adult Koreans. 25 male and 25 female, by using protein electrophoresis. Four fractions were demonstrated by protein electrophoresis using cellulose acetate membrane: Fraction 1 represents as tear-specific prealbumin(TSP1) and albumin, fraction 2 as other tear-specific prealbumin(TSP2), fraction 3 as lactotransferrin and immunoglobulin, and fraction 4 as lysozyme. In this study, the proportion of tear proteins in fraction 1 to 4 were 33.4%, 1.1%, 44.2%, and 21.2% respectively. With age, the proportion of fraction 4 decreased, and its decrease was not statistically significant difference. There was no statistically significant difference between age groups in fractions 1,2 or 3. Difference of proportion of tear proteins between the sex was not statistically significant in any of the fractions. Further studies on the tear proteins may be helpful in diagnosing some ocular conditions.