Impaired Cornea Wound Healing in an Tenascin C-Deficient Mouse

Abstract

Purpose: : To investigate the effects of loss of tenascin C in the healing of the injured cornea in mice. Cell culture study was also conducted to clarify the effects of tenascin C in fibroblast behaviors.

Methods: : Ocular fibroblasts from wild-type (WT) and tenascin C-null (KO) mice were used to study the role of tenascin C on cell behavior. The, effect of lacking tenascin C on cornea wound healing were evaluated in mice.

Results: : In cell culture, loss tenascin C counteracted TGFb1-acceleration of expression of fibrogenic cytokines and of myofibroblast conversion in ocular fibroblasts. Healing of an incision injury in corneal stroma was delayed,with less appearance of myofibroblasts, less invasion of macrophages and reduction in transforming growth factor b1 expression in a KO mouse as compared with a WT mouse.

Conclusions: : tenascin C modulates wound healing-related fibroblast behavior and is required to primary healing of the corneal stroma during wound healing.

Keywords: cornea: stroma and keratocytes • wound healing • extracellular matrix