Fig. 2.

MMP-8 deficient mice failed to control inflammation with Dex treatment. A: Mean ± SEM of results of gene expression analysis of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) -1,-3,-9,-13 mRNA transcripts in whole cornea of animals subjected to ocular burn with desiccating stress for 2 or 5 days and topically treated with either Dex or BSS in MMP-8KO or WT mice. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001; ****P < 0.0001 BSS versus UT in WT, BSS versus UT in MMP-8KO. B: Representative merged pictures of MMP-1 (green) immunofluorescent staining of central cornea cryosections from animals subjected to a combined model of alkali burn and dry eye topically treated with either Dex or BSS in wild-type (WT) or MMP-8KO mice. Counterstaining was PI = red. Dex, Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate; BSS, Balanced Salt Solution; UT= untreated control; NTC= negative control