Correlation between matrix metalloproteinase expression and activation of the focal adhesion kinase signaling pathway in herpes stromal keratitis

The present study aimed to investigate the correlation between matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) expression and activation of the focal adhesion kinase (FAK) signaling pathway in herpes stromal keratitis (HSK). The cornea of 24 BALB/c mice was infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) to construct a model of HSK. Six additional mice served as negative controls. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect FAK expression levels. Human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells cultured in vitro were infected with HSV-1 and the expression levels of MMP-2, FAK and phosphorylated-FAK (p-FAK) in HCE cells were detected using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry at 2, 20 and 40 h following infection. In the HSK rat model, the corneal epithelial cells appeared deranged and the number of neutrophils and FAK-positive cells was significantly increased compared with that of the negative control group (P<0.05). Repeated measures analysis of variance of RT-PCR showed no significant differences in MMP-2 and FAK mRNA expression levels in the infected cells at various time points, and no significant differences between infected cells and the negative control group were observed. There was no interaction between groups and time points. Pairwise comparisons showed that MMP-2 and FAK mRNA expression levels were significantly increased in virus-infected cells compared with those of the control group. Over time, MMP-2 and FAK mRNA expression levels did not differ significantly in virus-infected cells or in control cells. Western blot analysis indicated no significant differences in p-FAK, FAK and MMP-2 expression levels between the infected and control cells at 2 h (P>0.05). Infected cells showed a significant increase in MMP-2 and p-FAK expression levels than that of the control cells at 20 and 40 h (P<0.05). p-FAK, FAK and MMP-2 expression levels in virus-infected cells at 2 h differed significantly from those at 20 and 40 h (P<0.05). Immunohistochemical staining results showed that a longer infection time was associated with an increased number of cells staining positive for MMP-2, FAK and p-FAK. Following HSV-1 infection of the corneal epithelium, the FAK signaling pathway was activated, resulting in increased secretion of MMP-2 in the corneal tissue and accelerated formation of corneal ulcers and necrotic lesions.