Epigenetics effect on pathogenesis of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy.

Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) is an autoimmune disease. Recent studies have found the aberrant epigenetics in TAO, including DNA methylation, non-coding RNAs, and histone modification. Many genes have an aberrant level of methylation in TAO.

LncRNA LPAL2/miR-1287-5p/EGFR Axis Modulates TED-Derived Orbital Fibroblast Activation Through Cell Adhesion Factors.

Context: The activation of orbital fibroblasts, the prime targets in thyroid eye disease (TED), is central to its underlying pathogenesis.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the mechanism of TED orbital fibroblast activation from the perspective of noncoding RNA regulation.

Methods: Immunofluorescence (IF) staining was applied to evaluate the fibrotic changes in target cells.

The Smad2/3/4 complex binds miR-139 promoter to modulate TGFβ-induced proliferation and activation of human Tenon's capsule fibroblasts through the Wnt pathway.

The activation and proliferation of human Tenon's fibroblasts (HTFs) play a vital role in the fibrosis in the pathology of the scar formation after the glaucoma filtration surgery. Transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1)/Smads signaling has been reported to promote fibrosis. In our previous study, we revealed that TGFβ1-induced orbital fibroblast activation and proliferation through Wnt/β-catenin signaling.