RT Journal Article T1 Novel molecular diagnostic system of limbal stem cell deficiency based on MUC5AC transcript detection in corneal epithelium by PCR-reverse dot blot A1 García, Iker A1 Etxebarria, Jaime A1 Merayo Lloves, Jesús A1 Torras, Josep A1 Boto de los Bueis, Ana A1 Díaz Valle, David A1 Méndez Fernández, Rosalía A1 Acera, Arantxa A1 Suárez, Tatiana AB Purpose. To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of a PCR-strip system based on reverse dot blot for detection of MUC5AC mRNA in corneal epithelium samples from patients with limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD), and to determine the correlation with clinical diagnosis. Methods. We obtained 87 corneal impression cytology (IC) samples from 55 subjects (37 patients clinically diagnosed with LSCD and 18 control subjects). Total RNA was extracted from each IC sample and retrotranscribed to cDNA. MUC5AC mRNA transcript was amplified by a customized RT-PCR assay and detected in PCR strips based on reverse dot blot hybridization and in agarose gels. Conjunctival IC samples were used as positive controls. Results. Forty-four of 45 corneal IC samples obtained from patients clinically diagnosed with LSCD were positive for MUC5AC, whereas 34 of 42 corneal ICs from healthy subjects were negative for MUC5AC. Four healthy corneas were found MUC5AC positive, and four rendered inconclusive results. A correlation of 91.4% (P < 0.001) between molecular testing and clinical diagnosis was found. The overall sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of the PCR-strip system were 98%, 89%, 92%, and 97%, respectively. Conclusions. Corneal epithelium MUC5AC transcript detection by reverse dot blot PCR-strip is a highly sensitive technique for LSCD diagnosis. The test results strongly correlate with clinical diagnosis of characterized LSCD cases. The PCR-strip system may be used for early detection, and for the detection of mild cases of LSCD, and constitutes an objective clinical tool for the monitoring of treatments and surgical decisions PB The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology SN 1552-5783 YR 2013 FD 2013-08-10 LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/112287 UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/112287 LA eng NO : García I, Etxebarria J, MerayoLloves J, et al. Novel molecular diagnostic system of limbal stem cell deficiency based on MUC5AC transcript detection in corneal epithelium by PCR-reverse dot blot. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2013;54:5643–5652. DOI:10.1167/iovs.13-11933 NO Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology DS Docta Complutense RD 7 abr 2025