J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  1999 May;40(5):1195-1201.

Adherence of Acanthamoeba Lugdunensis on the Corneal Epithelium in Organ Cultured Human Cornea: A Scanning and Transmission Electron Microscopy Study

• Kim SM
• Hahn TW

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of Acanthamoeba to adhere to the epithelial cells of human cornea. Human corneas, obtained through the eye bank of Catholic Medical Center, were cultured in Optisol solution at 37degreesC. Trophozoites of Acanthamoeba lugdunensis cultured on non-nutrient agar plate were collected to make a suspension in concentration of 1x106/ml. 100microliter of amoeba suspension was added to the epithelial surface of cultured human corneas and each cornea was incubated for 12 hours. Each cornea was examined with scanning and transmission electron microscope. On scanning electron microscopy, trophozoites adhered to each other and to the corneal epithelium, especially to intercellular junction by their extended lobopodia at 12 hour-incubation. On transmission electron microscopy, trophozoites showed limited regions of attachment to the corneal epithelium at 12 hour-incubation, and the attached areas showed desmosome-like structure. Trophozoites adhered to each other by cytoplasmic interdigitation. In conclusion, trophozoites adhere to the corneal epithelial surface by their cytoplasmic processes and their processes appeared to have affinity to intercellular junctions of the corneal epithelium. Attachment regions between corneal epithelium and amoeba were characterized as desmosomelike junctions.

Keyword

Acanthamoeba lugdunensis; Organ culture; Corneal epithelium

MeSH Terms

Acanthamoeba*
Agar
Amoeba
Cornea*
Cytoplasm
Epithelial Cells
Epithelium, Corneal*
Eye Banks
Humans*
Intercellular Junctions
Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
Microscopy, Electron, Transmission*
Organ Culture Techniques
Pseudopodia
Trophozoites
Agar