Medizinische Universität Graz Austria/Österreich - Forschungsportal - Medical University of Graz
Gewählte Publikation:
Heidinger, A.
The effect of ultraviolet (UV) light on tear film and pollen ingredients – an approach for better understanding allergic and non-allergic reactions on the ocular surface.
Doktoratsstudium der Medizinischen Wissenschaft; Humanmedizin; [ Dissertation ] Graz Medical University; 2017. pp.
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- Autor*innen der Med Uni Graz:
- Betreuer*innen:
- Rabensteiner Dieter Franz
- Rabensteiner Jasmin
- Schmut Otto
- Altmetrics:
- Abstract:
- Purpose The number of patients suffering from allergic diseases increases from year to year. It is suspected, that environmental factors such as ozone and exhaust gases could increase the allergenic potential of pollen. Also climate change which leads to extended flowering periods of tree and grass pollen is in suspicion to increase the allergenic potential. We investigated the effect of ultraviolet (UV) light on tear film ingredients, pollen ingredients, pollen morphology and the impact of irradiated and non-irradiated pollen on the viability and proliferation of human conjunctival cells. Material und Methods Alder (Alnus glutinosa) and hazelnut (Corylus avellana) pollen were irradiated with sunlight or UV-A and UV-B light, respectively and the histamine content was analysed and compared with non-irradiated pollen. Changes in the protein spectrum of pollen were investigated with polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light microscopy were used to investigate effects of UV light on pollen morphology. A conjunctival cell line (CHANG cells) was used to study the effects of irradiated pollen on cell viability and proliferation. In a pilot study tears were obtained from five voluntary subjects, irradiated with UV light and analysed for their histidine and histamine content. Results UV light irradiation increased the histamine level of alder and hazelnut pollen in a dose dependent manner and caused changes in the pollen protein spectrum and pollen morphology. Treatment of CHANG cells with irradiated pollen induced a statistically significant higher decrease of cell viability than treatment with non- irradiated pollen. Conclusion Our results indicate, that UV-A and UV-B light cause pathological alterations of pollen, which could be a contributory cause for the worldwide increase of symptoms during the pollen season.