GLUCOCORTICOID RECEPTOR AND INTERLEUKIN-1 RECEPTOR MESSENGER-RNA EXPRESSION IN CORNEAL CELLS

Interleukin-1 receptor and glucocorticoid receptor messenger ribonucle ic acid (RNA) sequences coding for the corresponding proteins were det ected in corneal epithelium, stromal fibroblast, and endothelial cells using the polymerase chain reaction and hot blotting. Identification of interleukin-1 receptor mRNA in each of the three major cell types o f the cornea suggests that interleukin-1 alpha has autocrine and/or pa racrine roles in the cornea, since previous studies have found that in terleukin-1 alpha mRNA is produced in corneal epithelial, stromal fibr oblast, and endothelial cells. Further investigation is needed to dete rmine the functions regulated by the interleukin-1 receptor and glucoc orticoid receptor in the cornea and the role of each in corneal wound healing.