James Madison University Manufactures Rare Protein for Dry-Eye Syndrome Treatment.

AScribe Health News Service, March, 2005

Byline: James Madison University

HARRISONBURG, March 9 (AScribe Newswire) -- A protein that may keep human eyes from feeling like sandpaper - a condition known as "dry-eye syndrome" that affects 35 million Americans - is being reproduced at James Madison University.

The protein lacritin is found naturally in tears, but cannot be harvested in sufficient quantities from tears to allow for testing or use in any new treatment.

"Lacritin is secreted from a gland behind the eye that escaped scientific detection for many years," said Robert McKown, a JMU professor of integrated science and technology who is heading up the project. "It may be involved in stimulating new tear production and, if so, could form the basis of a revolutionary treatment for...

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