Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34428579›Full record

ArticleThe ocular surface2021

IL-36α/IL-36RA/IL-38 signaling mediates inflammation and barrier disruption in human corneal epithelial cells under hyperosmotic stress.

Jin-Miao Li, Rong Lu, Yun Zhang, Jing Lin, Xia Hua, Stephen C Pflugfelder, De-Quan Li

Open access · greenAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in The ocular surface, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 17 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
17citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
4.1field-weighted citation impact, top 6% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

17 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 28 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. The Role of TRPV1/CGRP Pathway Activated byInternational journal of molecular sciences · 2025
    Article
  8. Article
  9. Article
  10. Review
  11. Article
  12. Article
  13. Review
  14. Article
  15. Article
  16. Article
  17. Hyperosmolarity disrupts tight junctionInternational journal of ophthalmology · 2022
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.

Jin-Miao LiOcular Surface Center, Cullen Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Rong LuState Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. Electronic address: rongluzz@yahoo.com.
Yun ZhangOcular Surface Center, Cullen Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Eye Hospital and School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Jing LinOcular Surface Center, Cullen Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
Xia HuaOcular Surface Center, Cullen Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
Stephen C PflugfelderOcular Surface Center, Cullen Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
De-Quan LiOcular Surface Center, Cullen Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA. Electronic address: dequanl@bcm.edu.
Baylor College of Medicine · USSun Yat-sen University · CN

Funding

VISION RESEARCH CENTERP30EY002520 · NEI · BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE · PI Samuel M Wu · 1985 to 2026
$14.8M
PATHOGENESIS OF CONJUNCTIVAL SQUAMOUS METAPLASIAR01EY011915 · NEI · UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · PI PFLUGFELDER, STEPHEN C · 1997 to 2023
$8.0M
TLR4-DEPENDENT INNATE IMMUNITY IN POLLEN-TRIGGERED OCULAR ALLERGIC INFLAMMATIONR01EY023598 · NEI · BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE · PI LI, DE-QUAN · 2014 to 2018
$2.1M
NEI NIH HHS P30 EY002520NEI NIH HHS R01 EY011915NEI NIH HHS R01 EY023598
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeTo explore the distinct expression and diverse roles of IL-36 cytokines in dry eye disease using an in vitro hyperosmolarity model of human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs).

methodsPrimary HCECs were cultured from fresh donor limbal explants. Hyperosmolarity model was established by switching HCECs from isosmotic (312 mOsM) to hyperosmotic medium (350-500 mOsM) alone or with addition of rhIL-36RA or rhIL-38 for 2-48 h. Some cultures were treated with IL-36α (1-10 ng/ml) with or without rhIL-36RA or rhIL-38. Gene expression was detected by RT-qPCR; and protein production and barrier disruption were evaluated by ELISA and/or immunofluorescent staining.

resultsIL-36 cytokines were differential expressed in primary HCECs. Among 3 pro-inflammatory agonists, IL-36α, but not IL-36β and IL-36γ, was distinctly induced at osmolarity-dependent manner while two antagonist IL-36RA and IL-38 were significantly suppressed in HCECs exposed to hyperosmotic stress. IL-36α increased to 4.4-fold in mRNA and 6.9-fold at protein levels (116.0 ± 36.33 pg/ml vs 16.79 ± 6.51 pg/ml in controls) by 450 mOsM, but dramatically inhibited by addition of rhIL-36RA or rhIL-38. Exogenous rhIL-36α stimulated expression of TNF-α and IL-1β at mRNA and protein levels and disrupted tight junction proteins ZO-1 and occludin. However, rhIL-36RA or rhIL-38 suppressed TNF-α and IL-1β production and protected HCECs from barrier disruption in response to IL-36α or hyperosmolarity.

conclusionsOur findings demonstrate that the stimulated pro-inflammatory IL-36α with the suppressed antagonists IL-36RA and IL-38 is a novel mechanism by which hyperosmolarity induces inflammation in dry eye. IL-36RA and IL-38 may have a therapeutic potential in dry eye.

Indexed as

Dry Eye SyndromesEpithelium, CornealCytokinesEpithelial CellsHumansInflammationInterleukinsSignal TransductionCytokinesIL-38 protein, humanInterleukinsBarrierCorneal epitheliumDry eyeHyperosmolarityIL-36IL-36RAIL-38Inflammation

Identifiers

PMID34428579
PMCPMC9034690
OpenAlexW3194624237

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.