Fig. 3.

MMP-8 decreases neutrophil infiltration. A: Mean ± SEM of results of gene expression analysis of chemokines (IL-1β) and CXCL1 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 < 0.001; ****P < 0.0001 BSS versus UT in WT, BSS versus UT in MMP-8KO. B: Representative merged pictures of IL-1β (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. C: Representative pictures of Gr-1⁺ cells (red) 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 (10×). Insets are high magnification of the area below. D: Bar graphs (mean ± SEM) of Gr-1⁺ cell counts in whole cornea/groups. E: Myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in whole corneas lysates from corneas subjected to ocular burn with concomitant desiccating stress and topically treated with either Dex or BSS in wild-type (WT) or MMP-8KO mice (mean ± SEM). Dex, Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate; BSS, Balanced Salt Solution; UT= untreated control; NC=negative control