Abstract
Purpose: :
EphA receptors and ephrinA ligands are involved in nerve and vessel guidance during development, vascular cell assembly, and angiogenesis. Soluble ephrinA1–Fc has been reported to possess proangiogenic properties. Our purpose was to investigate the expression patterns of EphA and ephrinA in the cornea and in cultured mouse corneal cells.
Methods: :
SV40 T antigen–immortalized mouse corneal epithelial and keratocyte cell lines were generated and characterized using epithelial–/and keratocyte–specific markers. Confocal immunohistochemistry using antibodies against ephrinA ligands (ephrinA1, A2, A3, A4, or A5) and EphA receptors (EphA1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, or A8) were used in vitro (immortalized wild type mouse corneal epithelial cells and keratocytes) and in vivo (normal mouse cornea).
Results: :
EphrinA1 and EphA3 were expressed mainly in normal mouse corneal epithelium. EphA1, A2, and A3 and ephrinA1 and A2 were expressed in corneal epithelial cell lines. EphA3 and ephrinA2 showed a high level of expression and ephrinA1, EphA1, and EphA2 showed moderate expression. Similarly, ephrinA1 and A2 and EphA1 and A3 were observed in keratocyte cell lines. ephrinA1 and A2 showed a high level of expression and EphA1 and A3 displayed moderate expression.
Conclusions: :
The unique expression of certain ephrinA and EphA subtypes in the cornea suggests that ephrinA/EphA interaction may be important in the regulation of corneal angiogenesis.
Keywords: cornea: basic science • neovascularization