Abstract
Purpose:
To investigate the signaling pathway mediates the expression of Connective Tissue Growth Factor (CTGF) and corneal scarring in corneal wound healing
Methods:
We investigated whether TGF-β1 could induced MAPK pathways hosphorylation in Telomerase-immortalized human cornea stroma fibroblasts (THSF), and determined the effect of the MAPK pathways in TGF-β1 induced CTGF, fibronectin and collagen I expression. Then, the penetrating corneal wound model was created in vivo and the effect of JNK on CTGF expression and corneal scarring in corneal wound healing was identified.
Results:
TGF-β1 activated MAPK pathways in THSF cells. JNK inhibitor significantly inhibited CTGF, fibronectin and collagen I expression induced by TGF-b1 in THSF. In corneal wound healing, the JNK inhibitor significantly inhibited CTGF expression, markedly improved the architecture of corneal stroma and reduced corneal scar formation, but did not have a measurable impact on corneal wound healing in vivo.
Conclusions:
JNK mediates the expression of CTGF and corneal scarring in corneal wound healing, and might be considered as specific targets of drug therapy for corneal scarring.