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The aims of this study are to add to the characterization of scleral fibroblasts and to examine the reaction of these fibroblasts to inflammatory stimulation in an ex vivo organotypic model. Scleras of scleraxis-GFP (SCX-GFP) mice were analyzed using immunohistochemistry and qRT-PCR for the expression of the tendon cell associated marker genes <jats:italic>scleraxis<\/jats:italic> (SCX), <jats:italic>mohawk<\/jats:italic> and <jats:italic>tenomodulin<\/jats:italic>. In organotypic tissue culture, explanted scleras of adult scleraxis GFP reporter mice were exposed to 10\u00a0ng\/ml recombinant interleukin 1-\u00df (IL1-\u00df) and IL1-\u00df in combination with dexamethasone. The tissue was then analyzed by immunofluorescence staining of the inflammation- and fibrosis-associated proteins IL6, COX-2, iNOS, connective tissue growth factor, MMP2, MMP3, and MMP13 as well as for collagen fibre degradation using a Collagen Hybridizing Peptide (CHP) binding assay. The mouse sclera displayed a strong expression of scleraxis promoter-driven GFP, indicating a tendon cell-like phenotype, as well as expression of <jats:italic>scleraxis<\/jats:italic>, <jats:italic>tenomodulin<\/jats:italic> and <jats:italic>mohawk<\/jats:italic> mRNA. Upon IL1-\u00df stimulation, SCX-GFP+ cells significantly upregulated the expression of all proteins analysed. Moreover, IL1-\u00df stimulation resulted in significant collagen degradation. Adding the corticosteroid dexamethasone significantly reduced the response to IL1-\u00df stimulation. Collagen degradation was significantly enhanced in the IL1-\u00df group. Dexamethasone demonstrated a significant rescue effect. This work provides insights into the characteristics of scleral cells and establishes an ex vivo model of scleral inflammation.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1007\/s00418-021-01985-y","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2021,5,8]],"date-time":"2021-05-08T19:02:17Z","timestamp":1620500537000},"page":"123-132","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":7,"title":["Scleraxis expressing scleral cells respond to inflammatory stimulation"],"prefix":"10.1007","volume":"156","author":[{"given":"Ghada","family":"Atta","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Falk","family":"Schroedl","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Alexandra","family":"Kaser-Eichberger","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Gabriel","family":"Spitzer","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Andreas","family":"Traweger","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Ludwig M.","family":"Heindl","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4043-4033","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Herbert","family":"Tempfer","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,5,8]]},"reference":[{"issue":"7","key":"1985_CR1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2806","DOI":"10.1167\/iovs.07-1436","volume":"49","author":"GA Alyahya","year":"2008","unstructured":"Alyahya GA, Kolko M, Prause JU et al (2008) Matrix metalloproteinase-2 is expressed in melanoma-associated spongiform scleropathy. 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