Abstract
Purpose: :
Notch and Wnt signaling are highly conserved cell-determination pathways in many cell types. This study was undertaken to evaluate the interaction between Notch & Wnt signaling in the corneal epithelium.
Methods: :
Primary human corneal epithelial cells were isolated from limbal rings. After first passage the cells were exposed to a gamma secretase inhibitor to inhibit Notch signaling. Forty eight hours later, the cells were harvested & RNA was extracted & subjected to RT-PCR.
Results: :
Human corneal epithelial cells in-vitro expressed a number of Wnt protein, including Wnt3, Wnt5a, and Wnt7a. Treatment with gamma secretase inhibitor signaling increased the expression of Wnt3, while expression of Wnt5a & Wnt7a was slightly decreased.
Conclusions: :
Inhibition of Notch signaling appears to affect the expression of Wnt pathway genes. Based on these preliminary results, the effects of Notch on canonical & non-canonical Wnts appear to be different. Further studies are undergoing to determine the effect of Notch inhibition on other Wnt pathway genes.
Keywords: cornea: epithelium • differentiation • cornea: basic science