June 2013
Volume 54, Issue 15
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   June 2013
Role of Rho-ROCK signaling in TGFβ-mediated MRTF-A localization during EMT of LECs
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • Anna Korol
    Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
  • Judith West-Mays
    Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships Anna Korol, None; Judith West-Mays, None
  • Footnotes
    Support None
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science June 2013, Vol.54, 2958. doi:
  • Views
  • Share
  • Tools
    • Alerts
      ×
      This feature is available to authenticated users only.
      Sign In or Create an Account ×
    • Get Citation

      Anna Korol, Judith West-Mays; Role of Rho-ROCK signaling in TGFβ-mediated MRTF-A localization during EMT of LECs. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2013;54(15):2958.

      Download citation file:


      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

      ×
  • Supplements
Abstract

Purpose: Transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ)-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is involved in the formation of anterior subcapsular cataracts as well as secondary cataract. Our previous work suggests that myocardin related transcription factor A (MRTF-A) is an important mediator of TGFβ-induced EMT in lens epithelial cells (LECs). The following study investigated whether MRTF-A nuclear localization is downstream of TGFβ-induced Rho signaling, which is involved in cytoskeletal regulation and subsequent EMT.

Methods: Rat LEC explants, with epithelia attached to their native lens capsule, were isolated and maintained in culture. Confluent LEC explants were treated with TGFβ for 48 hours, in the presence or absence of the Rho kinase (ROCK) inhibitor Y27632. Lens explants were immunostained with MRTF-A to determine localization of MRTF-A. αSMA expression was detected with immunofluoresence to determine the state of EMT.

Results: In the ex vivo untreated rat LEC explants, MRTF-A was predominantly localized in the cytoplasm with negligible αSMA expression detected. Treatment with TGFβ (4ng/ml) triggered a transformation of LECs from a tightly packed cuboidal monolayer into an elongated mesenchymal phenotype, which included nuclear MRTF-A localization and increased expression of filamentous αSMA. In contrast, LEC explants treated with TGFβ in the presence of Y27632 (20μM) exhibited cytoplasmic MRTF-A staining with negligible αSMA expression and resembled control explants.

Conclusions: The current study demonstrated that the inhibition of the Rho-ROCK signaling pathway was able to prevent TGFβ-induced nuclear MRTF-A migration in conjunction with the suppression of αSMA expression. Overall, our data suggests that MRTF-A is a downstream target of the Rho signaling pathway in TGFβ-induced EMT of LECs.

Keywords: 445 cataract • 512 EMT (epithelial mesenchymal transition) • 493 cytoskeleton  
×
×

This PDF is available to Subscribers Only

Sign in or purchase a subscription to access this content. ×

You must be signed into an individual account to use this feature.

×