Outlook

Abstract

The findings obtained by our group during recent years show that the human nasolacrimal ducts must be included in the considerations concerning dry eye. Interesting areas will be analyses of normal tear components, such as freely water-soluble small molecules (e.g. urea or amino acids) or perhaps smaller model tear proteins such as lysozyme. These investigations would be useful for extrapolation to the human situation, since an understanding of the exact mechanism of absorption and regulation of these processes at the mucosa of the lacrimal passage is still missing. In this context, the current investigation of epithelial transporter systems of the human nasolacrimal ducts will give deeper insights into possible routes of absorption and also the substances which are able to be absorbed. Moreover, current analysis of TALT, CALT, as well as different epithelial cells of the lacrimal passage will be very interesting concerning the immune privilege of the eye.