Deletion of Fgfr2 in Ductal Basal Epithelium With Tamoxifen Induces Obstructive Meibomian Gland Dysfunction.

Purpose: Fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (Fgfr2) is crucial for the homeostasis of meibomian gland (MG). However, the role of Fgfr2 in MG ductal epithelial progenitors remains to be delineated. Herein, we created a new transgenic mouse model with conditional deletion of Fgfr2 from MG ductal progenitors and investigated the cell-specific role in the pathogenesis of obstructive meibomian gland dysfunction.

Methods: Peritoneal injection of tamoxifen (TAM) at 50 µg/gm for three consecutive days was performed to induce conditional deletion of Fgfr2 in two-month-old Krt5Fgfr2CKO or Krt5Fgfr2CKO-mTmG mice. Phenotypes of MG after Fgfr2 deletion were monitored by meibography, lipid staining, and immunostaining against keratin-6a in MG whole mounts. Lineage tracing of the Krt5+ progenitors of MG and biomarkers for ductal differentiation and proliferation were also examined by immunostainings.

Results: The Krt5Fgfr2CKO mice developed extensive ductal occlusion and acinar atrophy at day 10 after TAM administration. Robust thickening of ductal epithelium with abnormal differentiation and proliferation of ductal basal meibocytes were observed in the MGs of Krt5Fgfr2CKO mice. In Krt5Fgfr2CKO-mTmG mice, the Krt5+ progenitors and its progeny were labeled by EGFP after Fgfr2 depletion by TAM with evident expansion of the suprabasal and superficial layers of MG ductal epithelium when compared with the controls.

Conclusions: Our results substantiated the crucial role of Fgfr2 in homeostasis of the MG ductal epithelium. Deletion of Fgfr2 affects the MG ductal basal progenitors by impacting the differentiation of ductal meibocytes and the maintenance of acinar meibocytes, which are likely the underlying pathogenesis of obstructive MGD.