Figure 4. Ultraviolet B–induced proinflammatory and cell death signaling status among study groups. A: Immunohistochemical analysis showed severe loss of CK-5⁺ cells, P63⁺ cells, and Ki-67⁺ cells after ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation, which was prevented by UVB-blocking contact lenses (Etafilcon A and HEMA+MA). B and C: Quantitative analysis of P63⁺ and Ki-67⁺ cells in the corneal epithelium among the five study groups was performed (p<0.001 as determined with the Wilcoxon-Mann–Whitney test; n=5). D and E: The expression of nuclear factor-kappa B (p65), cyclooxygenase-2, Fas L, and Fas was increased after UVB irradiation and was prevented by the UVB-blocking contact lenses (Etafilcon A and HEMA+MA). All scale bars represent 30 μm.