Characterization of efflux proteins in human corneal epithelial cells

Purpose:Corneal epithelium is the main barrier for absorption of drugs into intraocular tissues after topical administration and part of this barrier may be formed by efflux proteins which translocate molecules from the cell interior to the extracellular space. The aim of this study was to characterize the gene expression and the activity of the efflux transporters in the cell culture model of immortalized human corneal epithelial cells (HCE cells), in primary cell line (HCEpiC), and in the human corneal epithelium.