Zasloff M. Defending the cornea with antibacterial fragments of keratin.
J Clin Invest 2012;
122:3471-3. [PMID:
23006322 DOI:
10.1172/jci65380]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In addition to its role in refraction, the cornea forms a barrier between the eye and environmental and infectious insults. Corneal infections are surprisingly rare, suggesting that multiple aspects of the immune system are at play in mediating protection. In this issue of the JCI, Tam et al. describe the unexpected role of a structural protein, cytokeratin 6A, in this process.
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