April 2009
Volume 50, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   April 2009
The Role of Relaxin2 and Relaxin-Like Factor at the Ocular Surface
U. Hampel; T. Klonisch; F. Paulsen
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • U. Hampel
    Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Martin Luther University, Halle (Saale), Germany
  • T. Klonisch
    Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
  • F. Paulsen
    Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Martin Luther University, Halle (Saale), Germany
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships  U. Hampel, None; T. Klonisch, None; F. Paulsen, None.
  • Footnotes
    Support  DFG grant PA738/9-2; BMBF Roux program grants FKZ 9/18, 12/08, 13/08; Sicca Forschungsförderung of Association of German Ophthalmologists
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science April 2009, Vol.50, 4270. doi:
  • Views
  • Share
  • Tools
    • Alerts
      User Alerts
      You are adding an alert for:
      The Role of Relaxin2 and Relaxin-Like Factor at the Ocular Surface
      You will receive an email whenever this article is corrected, updated, or cited in the literature. You can manage this and all other alerts in My Account
      The alert will be sent to:
      ×
      This feature is available to authenticated users only.
      Sign In or Create an Account ×
    • Get Citation
      Citation

      U. Hampel, T. Klonisch, F. Paulsen; The Role of Relaxin2 and Relaxin-Like Factor at the Ocular Surface. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2009;50(13):4270.

      Download citation file:

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

      ×
    • Get Permissions
  • Supplements
Abstract

Purpose: : The pregnancy related hormones relaxin 2 (RLN2) and relaxin-like factor (INSL3) are predominantly known for their effects on the reproductive system. They induce remodelling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) by influencing matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs). Dry eye syndrome is associated with ECM remodelling and chronic inflammation of the ocular surface and is accompanied by activation of MMPs. In recent investigations we detected human RLN2, INSL3 and their cognate relaxin-like receptors LGR7 and LGR8 in human corneal (Araki-Sasaki, HCE), conjunctival (IOBA-NHC, HCjE) and sebocyte (SZ95, SC) cell lines. In this study, we investigated potential effects of human RLN2 and INSL3 on cell proliferation as well as MMP and TIMP expression in HCE, HCjE, and SC.

Methods: : Proliferation was tested by an assay in cultured HCE, HCjE, and SC after stimulation with different concentrations of RLN2 and INSL3. Real-time PCR analysis was used to detect the influence of RLN2 and INSL3 on MMP2, MMP9, MMP13, TIMP1, and TIMP2.

Results: : Stimulation of HCE, HCjE, and SC with RLN2 and INSL3 significantly increased cell proliferation in all three cell types. No effect was achieved in primary corneal fibroblasts that were used for comparison. After 24h stimulation of HCE, HCjE and SC with RLN2 and INSL3 the mRNA expression levels of MMP2 increased. In HCE and SC the mRNA concentration of TIMP1 was up-regulated after stimulation, whereas it was downregulated in HCjE. TIMP2 mRNA expression levels were elevated in HCjE and SC, but were not affected in HCE. mRNA concentrations of MMP9 and MMP13 were not significantly influenced by RLN2 or INSL3 stimulation in all three cell lines.

Conclusions: : Taken together, our results show that RLN2 and INSL3 enhance cell proliferation and increase MMP2, TIMP1 and TIMP2 expression in HCE, HCjE and SC. It remains to be clarified whether RLN2 and INSL3 may have a similar role in vivo.

Keywords: cornea: tears/tear film/dry eye • extracellular matrix • proliferation 
© 2009, The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc., all rights reserved. Permission to republish any abstract or part of an abstract in any form must be obtained in writing from the ARVO Office prior to publication.
Copyright © 2025 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
×
×

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.

×
This site uses cookies. By continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to our privacy policy.Accept