Corneal stroma extracellular matrix proteins (primarily collagen fibers)

The corneal stroma is composed primarily of a highly organized lattice of collagen fibers (mainly type I and V, with contributions from types III, VI, XII, and XIV), which are interwoven with a variety of proteoglycans (decorin, lumican, keratocan, mimecan, biglycan, fibromodulin). This unique arrangement is essential for the transparency, shape, and mechanical properties of the cornea. The proper spacing and diameter of collagen fibrils, regulated by proteoglycans and minor collagens, are critical for minimizing light scatter and maintaining optical clarity. The stroma matrix is not a single molecule or molecular target, but rather a complex anatomical and physiological structure whose components play both structural and regulatory roles in corneal health and disease. This entry describes a category of structural proteins, not a single canonical therapeutic target or receptor, so it is best understood as a collection of proteins critical for tissue architecture and function, rather than a druggable pharmacological target.

Other names

Corneal collagen fibersCorneal stromal ECM proteinsCorneal collagen matrixCorneal stromal matrix proteins

No unified mechanism as no single drug targets the entire ECM. Collagen cross-linking (photochemical induction of additional bonds in collagen matrix). Enzymatic digestion/modification in experimental settings