近年来，热疗因其操作简便和显著疗效，在干眼及相关眼病治疗中受到关注。热疗通过加热睑板腺区域，软化睑脂，改善睑板腺导管通畅，广泛应用于睑板腺囊肿、睑腺炎、睑缘炎及睑板腺功能障碍等眼病。此外，热疗还有效缓解视疲劳和干眼不适，促进眼部创口愈合，减少感染风险。在中国古代，《黄帝内经》及《韩非子》早期记载了热疗技术的应用。西汉《淮南子》提到烧灼法用于眼病，东晋葛洪的《肘后备急方》描述了热敷治疗眼部不适的方法。隋唐时期的《备急千金要方》和《外台秘要》详细介绍了热疗的应用，宋代《圣济总录》和《龙树菩萨眼论》进一步精细化了热疗技术。明清时期的《普济方》和《目经大成》中记载了热疗的新进展。由此，古代热疗在眼科应用中积累了丰富的经验，尽管现代医学技术不断进步，但这些传统方法仍具有重要参考价值。
In recent years, heat therapy has gained attention for its simplicity and significant efficacy in treating dry eye and related ocular conditions. By heating the meibomian gland area, heat therapy softens meibomian secretions and improves gland duct patency, making it widely used for chalazion, hordeolum, blepharitis, and meibomian gland dysfunction. Additionally, it effectively alleviates visual fatigue and dry eye discomfort, promotes ocular healing, and reduces the risk of infection.In ancient China, the application of heat therapy was recorded early in texts such as the Huangdi Neijing and Han Feizi. The Huainanzi from the Western Han Dynasty mentions the use of cautery for eye diseases, while Zhouhou Beiji Fang by Ge Hong in the Eastern Jin Dynasty describes methods for treating eye discomfort with hot compresses. During the Sui and Tang dynasties, Beiji Qianjin Yaofang and Wai Tai Mi Yao provided detailed accounts of heat therapy applications. The Song Dynasty works *Shengji Zonglu* and Longshu Bodhisattva's Eye Treatise further refined the techniques. The Ming and Qing dynasties’ texts Pujifang and Mujing Dacheng documented new advancements in heat therapy.In summary, ancient heat therapy for ophthalmology accumulated substantial experience. Despite advances in modern medical technology, these traditional methods still hold significant reference value.
Conjunctival goblet cells are of great significance to the ocular surface. By secreting mucins—particularly MUC5AC—they play a pivotal role in stabilizing the tear film, safeguarding the cornea from environmental insults, and preserving overall ocular homeostasis. Over the past decade, remarkable progress has been made in understanding the distinctive biological characteristics and regenerative potential of these specialized cells, opening novel avenues for treating various ocular surface disorders, ranging from dry eye syndrome and allergic conjunctivitis to more severe conditions such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome.
This review comprehensively examines the morphology, function, and regulation of conjunctival goblet cells. Advanced imaging modalities, such as transmission electron microscopy, have provided in-depth insights into their ultrastructure. Densely packed mucin granules and a specialized secretory apparatus have been uncovered, highlighting the cells’ proficiency in producing and releasing MUC5AC. These structural characterizations have significantly enhanced our understanding of how goblet cells contribute to maintaining a stable and protective mucosal barrier, which is crucial for ocular surface integrity.
The review further delves into the intricate signaling networks governing the differentiation and regeneration of these cells. Key pathways, including Notch, Wnt/β-catenin, and TGF-β, have emerged as essential regulators of cell fate decisions, ensuring that goblet cells maintain their specialized functions. Critical transcription factors, such as Klf4, Klf5, and SPDEF, have been identified as indispensable for driving the differentiation process and sustaining the mature phenotype of goblet cells. Additionally, the modulatory effects of inflammatory mediators—such as IL-6, IL-13, and TNF-α—and growth factors, such as EGF and FGF, are explored. These molecular insights offer a robust framework for understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying ocular surface diseases, wherein the dysregulation of these processes often results in diminished goblet cell numbers and impaired tear film stability.
Innovative methodological approaches have provided a strong impetus to this field. The development of three-dimensional (3D) in vitro culture systems that replicate the native conjunctival microenvironment has enabled more physiologically relevant investigations of goblet cell biology. Moreover, the integration of stem cell technologies—including the use of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs)—has made it possible to generate goblet cell-like epithelia, thereby presenting promising strategies for tissue engineering and regenerative therapies. The application of artificial intelligence in optimizing drug screening and biomaterial scaffold design represents an exciting frontier that may accelerate the translation of these findings into effective clinical interventions.
In conclusion, this review underscores the central role of conjunctival goblet cells in preserving ocular surface health and illuminates the transformative potential of emerging regenerative approaches. Continued research focused on deciphering the intricate molecular mechanisms governing goblet cell function and regeneration is essential for developing innovative, targeted therapies that can significantly improve the management of ocular surface diseases and enhance patient quality of life.
Conjunctival goblet cells are of great significance to the ocular surface. By secreting mucins—particularly MUC5AC—they play a pivotal role in stabilizing the tear film, safeguarding the cornea from environmental insults, and preserving overall ocular homeostasis. Over the past decade, remarkable progress has been made in understanding the distinctive biological characteristics and regenerative potential of these specialized cells, opening novel avenues for treating various ocular surface disorders, ranging from dry eye syndrome and allergic conjunctivitis to more severe conditions such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome.
This review comprehensively examines the morphology, function, and regulation of conjunctival goblet cells. Advanced imaging modalities, such as transmission electron microscopy, have provided in-depth insights into their ultrastructure. Densely packed mucin granules and a specialized secretory apparatus have been uncovered, highlighting the cells’ proficiency in producing and releasing MUC5AC. These structural characterizations have significantly enhanced our understanding of how goblet cells contribute to maintaining a stable and protective mucosal barrier, which is crucial for ocular surface integrity.
The review further delves into the intricate signaling networks governing the differentiation and regeneration of these cells. Key pathways, including Notch, Wnt/β-catenin, and TGF-β, have emerged as essential regulators of cell fate decisions, ensuring that goblet cells maintain their specialized functions. Critical transcription factors, such as Klf4, Klf5, and SPDEF, have been identified as indispensable for driving the differentiation process and sustaining the mature phenotype of goblet cells. Additionally, the modulatory effects of inflammatory mediators—such as IL-6, IL-13, and TNF-α—and growth factors, such as EGF and FGF, are explored. These molecular insights offer a robust framework for understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying ocular surface diseases, wherein the dysregulation of these processes often results in diminished goblet cell numbers and impaired tear film stability.
Innovative methodological approaches have provided a strong impetus to this field. The development of three-dimensional (3D) in vitro culture systems that replicate the native conjunctival microenvironment has enabled more physiologically relevant investigations of goblet cell biology. Moreover, the integration of stem cell technologies—including the use of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs)—has made it possible to generate goblet cell-like epithelia, thereby presenting promising strategies for tissue engineering and regenerative therapies. The application of artificial intelligence in optimizing drug screening and biomaterial scaffold design represents an exciting frontier that may accelerate the translation of these findings into effective clinical interventions.
In conclusion, this review underscores the central role of conjunctival goblet cells in preserving ocular surface health and illuminates the transformative potential of emerging regenerative approaches. Continued research focused on deciphering the intricate molecular mechanisms governing goblet cell function and regeneration is essential for developing innovative, targeted therapies that can significantly improve the management of ocular surface diseases and enhance patient quality of life.
