Crosstalk between TGF-beta and MAPK signaling during corneal wound healing.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to elucidate the mechanisms governing epithelial cell migration and proliferation during wound healing.

Methods: The authors used wound healing of mouse corneal epithelium to examine the role TGF-β signaling plays during the healing process. To achieve this goal, they used transgenic mice in which the TGF-β receptor type II (Tbr2) was conditionally ablated from the corneal epithelium.

Characterization of tetracycline-inducible bitransgenic Krt12rtTA/+/tet-O-LacZ mice.

Purpose: To prepare binary transgenic mouse lines that overexpress reporter genes in a corneal-epithelium-specific manner when induced by doxycycline.

Methods: A gene-targeting construct containing an internal ribosomal entry site-reverse tetracycline transcription activator (IRES-rtTA) cassette was inserted into the Krt12 allele (keratin 12 gene) to produce a knock-in Krt12(rtTA/+) mouse line through gene-targeting techniques. The Krt12(rtTA/+) knock-in mice were bred with tet-O-LacZ reporter mice to obtain Krt12(rtTA/+)/tet-O-LacZ bitransgenic mice.

Keratocan, a cornea-specific keratan sulfate proteoglycan, is regulated by lumican.

Lumican is an extracellular matrix glycoprotein widely distributed in mammalian connective tissues. Corneal lumican modified with keratan sulfate constitutes one of the major proteoglycans of the stroma. Lumican-null mice exhibit altered collagen fibril organization and loss of corneal transparency.

Altered KSPG expression by keratocytes following corneal injury.

Purpose: Keratocytes synthesize keratan-sulfate proteoglycans (KSPG), lumican and keratocan, to develop and maintain proper collagen interfibrillar spacing and fibril diameter characteristics of the transparent cornea. The purposes of this study are to compare the expression patterns of KSPGs and keratin 12 (K12) respectively by corneal keratocytes and epithelial cells after three different types of injuries; partial and total epithelial debridement and alkali burn.

Methods: Corneas of 8-12 week old C57Bl/6J or FVBN mice were wounded by partial epithelial (2 mm in diameter) and total epithelial debridement, and alkali burn (0.

MEK kinase 1 regulates c-Jun phosphorylation in the control of corneal morphogenesis.

Purpose: To study the in vivo role of MEK kinase 1 (MEKK1) in corneal development.

Methods: Wild type and Mekk1DeltaKD/DeltaKD mice eye tissues were examined by staining with hematoxylin and eosin for morphogenesis and Masson's trichrome for extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition. The cells expressing ECM gene transcripts of Collagen I, Keratocan, and Lumican in corneal stroma were identified by in situ hybridization and the level of Collagen I mRNA in the developing cornea was quantified by real-time RT-PCR.

Response of lens epithelial cells to injury: role of lumican in epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

Purpose: Lens epithelial cells (LECs) undergo epithelial-mesenchcymal transition (EMT) after injury and transform into myofibroblasts positive for alpha-smooth muscle actin (alphaSMA), an established marker of this process. Lumican is a keratan sulfate proteoglycan core protein. This study was conducted to examine whether human and mouse LECs express lumican after injury.

Cis-regulatory elements of the mouse Krt1.12 gene.

Purpose: Keratin 12 is a cornea epithelial cell-specific intermediate filament component. To better understand the regulatory mechanism of its expression, the cis-regulatory elements located between the transcription start site and 600 bp upstream of the Krt1.12 gene were determined.