Alkali burn injury model of meibomian gland dysfunction in mice
Authors:   Xiamen University Affiliated Xiamen Eye Center, Eye Institute of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 3611002, Fujian Province, China; The Second Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421000, Hunan Province, China, Li Yong , Lin Yong ,   Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361100, Fujian Province, China, Yan Ke ,   Department of Ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Hengyang 421001, Hunan Province, China, Lyu Yu-Fei ,   Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361100, Fujian Province, China, Zhang Zhao-Qiang ,   Xiamen University Affiliated Xiamen Eye Center, Eye Institute of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 3611002, Fujian Province, China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Fujian Engineering and Research Center of Eye Regenerative Medicine, Xiamen 3611002, Fujian Province, China, Huang Cai-Hong ,   Xiamen University Affiliated Xiamen Eye Center, Eye Institute of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 3611002, Fujian Province, China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Fujian Engineering and Research Center of Eye Regenerative Medicine, Xiamen 3611002, Fujian Province, China, Hu Jiao-Yue ,   Xiamen University Affiliated Xiamen Eye Center, Eye Institute of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 3611002, Fujian Province, China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Fujian Engineering and Research Center of Eye Regenerative Medicine, Xiamen 3611002, Fujian Province, China, Liu Zu-Guo ,   Xiamen University Affiliated Xiamen Eye Center, Eye Institute of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 3611002, Fujian Province, China; The Second Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421000, Hunan Province, China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Fujian Engineering and Research Center of Eye Regenerative Medicine, Xiamen 3611002, Fujian Province, China
Published: November 2024

AIM: To establish a stable, short-time, low-cost and reliable murine model of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).
METHODS: A filter paper sheet soaked in 1.0 mol/L sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution was used to touch the eyelid margin of C57BL/6J mice for 10s to establish the model. The other eye was left untreated as a control group. Eyelid margin morphological changes and the meibomian glands (MGs) were observed by slit lamp microscopy on days 5 and 10 post-burn. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and Oil red O staining were adopted in detecting the changes in MGs morphology and lipid deposition. Real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, immunofluorescence staining and immunohistochemical staining were used to detect interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, IL-18, tumor necroses factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase 4 (NOX4), 3-nitroturosine (3-NT), 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) and cytokeratin 10 (K10) expression changes in MGs.
RESULTS: MGs showed plugging of orifice, glandular deficiency, abnormal acinar morphology, ductal dilatation, and lipid deposition after alkali burn. The expressions of IL-6, IL-18, IL-1β, IFN-γ, and TNF-α indicators of inflammation and oxidative stress in MGs tissues were significantly increased. Abnormal keratinization increased in the MG duct.
CONCLUSION: A murine model of MGD is established by alkali burn of the eyelid margin that matches the clinical presentation of MGD providing a stable, short-time, low-cost, and reliable MGD model. The new method suggests efficient avenues for future research.