Purpose To investigate the contribution of β-Defensins 3  and IL-17 to sensory nerve ending regeneration in the murine cornea .
Methods RNA was extracted from corneal epithelial cells scraped from murine cornea and RT-PCR was performed to detectβ-Defensins 3  and IL-17 mRNA using a model of corneal abrasion the removes the stratified epithelium and subbasal nerve plexus. Point counting analysis of sub-basal nerve density in wound-related corneal regions at 96 hours after central epithelial abrasion comparing wildtype and TLR4-/- mice, (n=4, means ± SEM).
Result In TLR4-deleted mice, there was a 30% attenuation compared with  C57 wildtype mouse.
Conclusion Cytokine stimulation ofβ-Defensins 3  expression most likely provides additional protection against infection  and raises the possibility thatβ-Defensins 3  and IL-17 may be involved in the wound healing response.β-Defensins 3  and IL-17  is necessary for Efficient   Corneal  Nerve Regeneration.