Gremlin is a potential target for posterior capsular opacification
B Ma, R Jing, J Liu, T Qi, C Pei - Cell Cycle, 2019 - Taylor & Francis
B Ma, R Jing, J Liu, T Qi, C Pei
Cell Cycle, 2019•Taylor & FrancisObjective: The present study was conducted to determine the role of gremlin during the
development of posterior capsular opacification (PCO) via in vitro and in vivo experiments.
Methods: The activation, roles and relationships of the BMPs/Smad1/5, MAPK, FAK and AKT
signaling pathways in human lens epithelial cells (HLECs) after gremlin induction were
detected by western blotting and real-time PCR. Wound-healing, transwell, capsular bag
models and rat PCO models assays were used to test the effects of gremlin on HLECs' …
development of posterior capsular opacification (PCO) via in vitro and in vivo experiments.
Methods: The activation, roles and relationships of the BMPs/Smad1/5, MAPK, FAK and AKT
signaling pathways in human lens epithelial cells (HLECs) after gremlin induction were
detected by western blotting and real-time PCR. Wound-healing, transwell, capsular bag
models and rat PCO models assays were used to test the effects of gremlin on HLECs' …
Abstract
Objective: The present study was conducted to determine the role of gremlin during the development of posterior capsular opacification (PCO) via in vitro and in vivo experiments.
Methods: The activation, roles and relationships of the BMPs/Smad1/5, MAPK, FAK and AKT signaling pathways in human lens epithelial cells (HLECs) after gremlin induction were detected by western blotting and real-time PCR. Wound-healing, transwell, capsular bag models and rat PCO models assays were used to test the effects of gremlin on HLECs’ migration, proliferation, EMT-specific protein α-smooth muscle actin（α-SMA）and development of PCO in rats.
Results: Our data showed that knockdown of the gremlin inhibited the development of PCO and reduced expression of α-SMA in rats. While gremlin did not alter the migration of HLECs, it increased the expression of p-ERK and p-AKT. Knockout of Smad2 or Smad3 inhibited the expression of p-ERK and p-AKT proteins induced by gremlin. Gremlin also reduced BMP4-induced expression of the p-Smad1/5 protein. Finally, knockout of Smad1/5 increased gremlin-induced expression of α-SMA, fibronectin and type I collagen (COL-1) in HLECs.
Conclusion: These results suggested that gremlin contributed to the development of PCO by promoting LEC proliferation, activation of TGF-β/Smad, ERK and AKT signaling and inhibition of BMPs/Smad1/5 signaling. Furthermore, inhibiting gremlin effectively impaired both PCO development in rats and EMT in the lens capsule. Thus, our data suggest that gremlin might be a potential target for PCO.
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