Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Tear proteins in health, disease, and contact lens wear

  • Review
  • Published:
Biochemistry (Moscow) Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Although well known as manifestations of sorrow, emotions, frustration, and blackmail, tears have a more prosaic and important function as a lubricant and as a blood substitute for the cornea. Tears transport oxygen and carbon dioxide and play a central role in the cellular economy of the ocular surface and conjunctiva. In addition to proteins, tears contain lipids and glycoproteins, which increase the wetting effect of the aqueous component and delay evaporation. The total protein concentration of tears is about 10% of that of the plasma. About 80 proteins and polypeptide components have been detected by electrophoresis. Among 30 proteins identified in tears, about 50% are enzymes. Some of the tear enzymes are secreted by the lacrimal glands; others are produced by or released from epithelial cells of the cornea and the conjunctiva. Finally, a few enzymes originate from plasma and appear in tears only in cases with increased permeability of the conjunctival vessels. The aim of this review is to provide clinical and biochemical information about tear enzymes both for ophthalmologists and for biochemists interested in clinical and experimental tear enzymology.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

CK:

creatine kinase

HSV:

herpes simplex virus

LDH:

lactate dehydrogenase

MDH:

malate dehydrogenase

PA:

plasminogen activator

PAI:

plasminogen activator inhibitor

PK:

pyruvate kinase

References

  1. Kronfeld, P. C., McHugh, G., and Polyak, S. L. (1943) The Human Eye, in Anatomical Transparencies, Bausch & Lomb Press, Rochester-N.Y.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bryson, H. (1988) in Chawla Ophthalmology, Longman Group Ltd, pp. 22.

  3. Maurice, D. M. (1987) Int. Ophthalmol. Clinics, 13, 103–107.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Holly, F. J. (1980) Am. J. Optometry, 57, 252–256.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Ehlers, N. (1965) Acta Ophthalmol. Suppl., 81, 136–142.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Maurice, D. M., and Mishima, S. (1969) Exp. Eye Res., 9, 43–47.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Mishima, S., and Maurice, D. M. (1961) Exp. Eye Res., 1, 39–44.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Lowther, G. L., and Synder, C. (1992) Contact Lenses, Procedures and Techniques, Butterworth-Heinemann.

  9. Aberson, M. B., Soter, N. A., Simon, M. A., Jon Dohlman, B. A., and Mathea, R. (1977) Am. J. Ophthalmol., 83, 417–422.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Furukama, R. E., and Polse, K. A. (1978) Am. J. Ophthalmol., 55, 69–72.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Iwata, S., Lemp, M. A., Holly, F. J., and Dohlman, N. C. H. (1969) Invest. Ophthalmol., 8, 613–620.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Fischer, F. H., and Wiederholt, M. (1978) Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., 17, 810–813.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Holly, F. J. (1974) J. Colloid Interface Sci., 49, 221–231.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Fischer, F. H., and Wiederholt, M. (1982) Graef’s Arch. Clin. Exp. Ophthalmol., 218, 168–170.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Garney, L. G., and Hill, R. M. (1972) Arch. Ophthalmol., 97, 951–952.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Pes, O., and Archivio, Di. (1978) Ophthalmologia, 5, 82–89.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Tiffany, J. M. (1978) Exp. Eye Res., 27, 289–292.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Nicholaides, N., Kaitaranta, J. K., Rawdah, T. N., Macy, J. I., Boswell, F. M., and Smith, R. E. (1981) Invest. Ophthalmol., 20, 522–529.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Van Haeringen, N. J. (1981) Survey Ophthalmol., 26, 84–90.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Tighe, B. J., and Bright, A. (1993) J. Br. Contact Lens Assoc., 16, 57–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Gachon, A. M., Verrelle, P., Betail, G., and Dastugue, B. (1979) Exp. Eye Res., 29, 539–553.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Lehninger, A. L. (1995) Biochemistry, Worth, N. Y.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Yamamoto, G. K., and Allansmith, M. R. (1979) Am. J. Ophthalmol., 88, 758–763.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Bron, A. J., and Seal, D. V. (1986) Trans. Ophthalmol. Soc. UK, 105, 18–25.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Cullor, J. S., Mannis, M. J., Murphy, C. J., Smith, W. L., Selsted, M. E., and Reid, T. W. (1990) Arch. Ophthalmol., 108, 861–864.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Berta, A. (1992) in Enzymology of the Tears, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, pp. 19–28.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Weissman, B. A., Giese, M. J., and Mondino, B. J. (1994) Optom. Clin., 3, 1–22.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Kijlstra, A., and Kuizenga, A. (1994) Adv. Exp. Med. Biol., 350, 299–308.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Haynes, R. J., Tighe, B. J., and Dua, H. S. (1999) Br. J. Ophthalmol., 83, 737–741.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Hara, S., and Matsushima, Y. (1967) J. Biochem., 62, 118–122.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Stryer, L. (2005) Biochemistry, W. H. Freeman, N. Y.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Jolles, P. (1983) Lysozyme, in The Enzymes, Vol. 4 (Boyer, P. D., Lardy, H., and Myrback, K., eds.) Academic Press, N. Y.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Fleming, A. (1922) Proc. Roy. Soc. London, Ser. B, 93, 306–312.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Alderton, G., Ward, W. H., and Fevold, H. L. (1945) J. Biol. Chem., 157, 43–51.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Sophianopoulos, A. J., Rhods, C. K., Holcomb, D. N., and van Holde, K. E. (1962) J. Biol. Chem., 237, 1107–1115.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Jolles, J., Jauregui, A. J., Bernier, I., and Jolles, P. L. (1963) Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 78, 668–673.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Canfield, R. E. (1963) Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 78, 698–702.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Phillips, D. C. (1967) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 57, 484–490.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Davies, A. C., Neuberger, A., and Wilson, B. M. (1969) Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 178, 294–298.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Osserman, E. F. (1967) Science, 155, 1536–1542.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Meyer, K., Hahnel, E., and Steinberg, A. (1946) J. Biol. Chem., 163, 733–739.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Fleming, A., and Alison, V. D. (1922) J. Exp. Pathol., 3, 353–360.

    Google Scholar 

  43. Fleming, A. (1923) Proc. Roy. Soc. London, Ser. B, 94, 142–148.

    Google Scholar 

  44. Bonavida, B., Sapse, A. T., and Sercarz, E. E. (1967) J. Lab. Clin. Med., 70, 951–957.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Jolles, J., and Jolles, P. (1967) Biochemistry, 6, 411–418.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Covey, W., Perille, P., and Finch, S. C. (1967) Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med., 137, 1362–1369.

    Google Scholar 

  47. Ensink, F. T. E., and van Haeringen, N. J. (1977) Ophthalmol. Res., 9, 366–372.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Berta, A. (1986) in The Preocular Tear Film in Health, Disease, and Contact Lens Wear (Holly, F. J., ed.) Lubbock, TX, pp. 418–428.

  49. Bonavida, B., and Sapse, A. T. (1968) Am. J. Ophthalmol., 66, 70–77.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Sariri, R., and Erfani, A. (1999) 8th Iranian Biol. Conf., Bakhtaran University, Iran.

    Google Scholar 

  51. Sariri, R., Jones, L., Franklin, V., Evans, K., and Tighe, B. J. (1996) Optometry Vis. Sci., 73, 16–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. Sariri, R., and Tighe, B. J. (1996) Iran. Polymer J., 5, 259–265.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Sariri, R., Jones, L., Franklin, V., Evans, K., and Tighe, B. J. (1997) The Contact Lens Assoc. Ophthalmol. J., 23, 122–126.

    Google Scholar 

  54. Sariri, R. (1997) Iran. Polymer J., 6, 135–143.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Jones, L., Manns, A., Franklin, V., Evans, K., Sariri, R., and Tighe, B. J. (2000) Biomaterial, 26, 122–128.

    Google Scholar 

  56. Jones, L., Franklin, V., Evans, K., Sariri, R., and Tighe, B. J. (2000) Biomaterial, 26, 78–84.

    Google Scholar 

  57. Sariri, R. (2004) J. Appl. Biomaterial Biomechanics, 2, 1–19.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Sariri, R., Arasteh, A., and Mahmoodian, J. (2006) Asian J. Chem., 18, 8–14.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Sariri, R., and Sanei, Z. (2005) Int. J. Chem. Sci., 3, 215–220.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Jackson, D. S. (1980) in Collagenase in Normal and Pathological Connective Tissues (Wooley, D. E., ed.) John Wiley & Sons, pp. 1–11.

  61. Pandolfi, M., Astedt, B., and Dyster-Ase, K. (1972) Acta Ophthalmol., 50, 199–204.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  62. Mullertz, S., and Lassen, M. (1953) Proc. Soc. Biol. Med., 82, 264–269.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  63. Hayashi, K., Farangieh, G., Kenyon, K. R., Berman, M., and Wolf, G. (1988) Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., 29, 1810–1818.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  64. Tozser, J., and Berta, A. (1991) Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., 64, 426–432.

    Google Scholar 

  65. Berta, A., Tozser, J., and Holly, F. (1990) Acta Ophthalmol., 68, 508–514.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  66. Van Haeringen, N. J., and Glasius, E. (1974) Exp. Eye Res., 18, 345–352.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  67. Van Haeringen, N. J., and Glasius, E. (1974) Exp. Eye Res., 18, 407–415.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  68. Kahan, I. L., and Ottaway, E. (1975) Graef’s Arch. Clin. Exp. Ophthalmol., 194, 267–274.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  69. Liotet, S., Jacq, C., and Warnet, V. N. (1980) Contractologica, 2, 245–252.

    Google Scholar 

  70. Van Haeringen, N. J., and Glasius, E. (1974) Exp. Eye Res., 19, 135–141.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  71. Van Haeringen, N. J., Ensink, F., and Glasius, E. (1976) Exp. Eye Res., 22, 297–303.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  72. Van Haeringen, N. J. (1981) Survey Ophthalmol., 26, 84–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  73. Garrett, J. R., and Kidd, A. (1977) Histochem. J., 9, 435–441.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  74. Nickerson, J. F., Kraus, F. W., and Perry, W. I. (1957) Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med., 95, 405–412.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  75. Thomson, J., and Morell, D. B. (1967) J. Biochem., 62, 483–445.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  76. Essner, E. (1971) J. Histochem. Cytochem., 19, 216–219.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  77. Iwata, T., Ohkawa, K., and Uyama, M. (1976) Invest. Ophthalmol., 15, 40–46.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  78. Bromberg, B. B., and Welch, M. H. (1986) Curr. Eye Res., 5, 217–222.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  79. Bukley, G. B. (1983) Surgery, 94, 407–411.

    Google Scholar 

  80. Bhuyan, K. C., and Bhuyan, D. K. (1970) Invest. Ophthalmol., 69, 147–152.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  81. Fridovich, I. (1978) Science, 201, 875–882.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  82. Yuan, N., and Pitts, D. G. (1984) Am. J. Ophthalmol., 97, 796–803.

    Google Scholar 

  83. Sariri, R. (1977) Lysozyme Activity in Contact Lens Wearers, 4th Natl. Biochem. Congress, Babol University of Medical Sciences, I. R. Iran.

    Google Scholar 

  84. Berman, M., Leary, R., and Gage, J. (1980) Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., 19, 1204–1212.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  85. Berta, A., Tozser, J., and Holly, F. J. (1990) Acta Ophthalmol., 68, 508–512.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  86. Tozser, J., Berta, A., and Punyiczk, M. (1989) Clin. Chim. Acta, 183, 323–328.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  87. Prause, J. U. (1983) Acta Ophthalmol., 61, 272–278.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  88. Salonen, E. M., Tervo, T., Torma, E., Tarkknen, A., and Vaheri, A. (1987) Acta Ophthalmol., 65, 3–9.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  89. Berta, A., Tozser, J., and Holly, F. J. (1995) Acta Ophthalmol., 72, 315–320.

    Google Scholar 

  90. Kenyon, K. R. (1982) Ophthalmology, 89, 44–49.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  91. Hynes, R. O. (1985) Ann. Rev., Palo Alto, 1, 67–91.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  92. Schwartzbauer, J. E., Paul, J. I., and Hynes, R. O. (1985) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 82, 1424–1429.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  93. Vaheri, A., Salonen, E. M., Vartio, T., Hedman, K., and Stenman, S. (1983) Biology and Pathology of the Vessel Wall (Woolf, N., ed.) Eastburn Praeger, pp. 161–169.

  94. Jonkman, M. F. (1989) Ph. D. Thesis, University of Groeningen.

  95. Berman, M., Kenyon, K., Hayashi, K., and Hernault, N. (1988) The Cornea, Trans. of the World Cong. on the Cornea (Dwight Cavanagh, H., ed.) Raven Press, New York, pp. 35–39.

    Google Scholar 

  96. Nishida, T., Nakagawa, S., Nishibayashi, C., Tanaka, H., and Manabe, R. (1984) Arch. Ophthalmol., 102, 455–459.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  97. Nishida, T., Ohashi, Y., Awata, T., and Manabe, R. (1983) Arch. Ophthalmol., 101, 1046–1054.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  98. Nishida, T., Nakagawa, S., Ohashi, Y., Awata, T., and Manabe, R. (1982) Jpn. J. Ophthalmol., 26, 410–418.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  99. Newsome, D. A., Foidart, J. M., Hassel, J. R., et al. (1981) Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., 20, 738–744.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  100. Bell, D. M., Holman, R. C., and Pavan-Langston, D. (1982) Ann. Ophthalmol., 14, 421–427.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  101. Pavan-Langston, D. (1983) The Cornea. Scientific Foundations and Clinical Practice (Smolin, G., and Thoft, R. A., eds.) Brown and Company, Boston, pp. 178–185.

    Google Scholar 

  102. Nahmias, A., Alford, C., and Korones, S. (1970) Adv. Pediatr., 17, 185–191.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  103. Tervo, T., Salonen, E. M., Vaheri, A., Immonen, I., van Setten, G. B., Himberg, J. J., and Tarkkanen, A. (1988) Acta Ophthalmol., 66, 393–398.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  104. Tozser, J., and Berta, A. (1991) Acta Ophthalmol., 69, 426–433.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  105. Berta, A., Holly, F., and Tozser, J. (1992) Proc. Symp. Pharmacotherapy of the Eye, Springer-Verleg, Heidelberg, pp. 225–242.

    Google Scholar 

  106. Abelson, M. B., Baird, R. S., and Allansmith, M. R. (1980) Ophthalmology, 87, 812–818.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  107. Tighe, B. J. (1988) Contact Lens Material, Contact Lenses, 3rd Edn., Butterworth, London, pp. 72–124.

    Google Scholar 

  108. Tripathi, R. C., Ruben, M., and Tripathi, B. J. (1978) in Soft Contact Lenses, Clinical and Applied Technology (Rube, M., ed.) John Wiley & Sons, New York, pp. 229–238.

    Google Scholar 

  109. Mirejovsky, D., Bakhit, P., and Patel, A. S. (1994) Poster. 18th Ann. Clin. Conf., British Contact Lens Association, London, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  110. Sariri, R., Evans, K., and Tighe, B. J. (1994) 18th Ann. Clin. Conf., British Contact Lens Association, London, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  111. Kerzansoki, J. Z., and Houlsby, R. D. (1988) J. Am. Optom. Assoc., 59, 193–196.

    Google Scholar 

  112. Gyulai, P., Dziabo, A., Kelly, W., Kiral, R., and Powell, C. H. (1987) Contact Lens Spectrum, 2, 61–77.

    Google Scholar 

  113. Yuan, N., and Pitts, D. G. (1984) Acta Ophthalmol., 97, 769–775.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran

    R. Sariri & H. Ghafoori

Authors
  1. R. Sariri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. H. Ghafoori
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. Sariri.

Additional information

Published in Russian in Biokhimiya, 2008, Vol. 73, No. 4, pp. 469–482.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sariri, R., Ghafoori, H. Tear proteins in health, disease, and contact lens wear. Biochemistry Moscow 73, 381–392 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0006297908040020

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0006297908040020

Key words

Search

Navigation