Abstract
Purpose :
Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) are a novel class of non-protein coding transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides. Recent studies demonstrated that lncRNAs are essential in a wide range of physiological and pathological processes. The roles of lncRNAs in corneal epithelial wound healing, however, remains unknown. In the present study, we profile their involvement in corneal epithelial renewal and develop a lncRNA-gene network that affects wound healing outcome.
Methods :
Mouse corneal epithelial cell layers were scratch wounded and harvested. Total RNA was extracted. We used the Affymetrix Microarray Platform to analyze differentially expressed lncRNAs during mouse corneal epithelial wound healing. Real time RT-PCR analyses were performed to validate the microarray findings. Bioinformatic analyses predicted the target genes of candidate lncRNAs and their involved signaling pathways.
Results :
Microarray analysis indicated that 1500 lncRNAs were significantly downregulated whereas 1253 others were markedly upregulated during corneal wound healing (fold change>2). The expression of 8 lncRNAs was successfully confirmed by Realtime RT-PCR. Bioinformatic analyses revealed involvement of a complex lncRNA-gene network during corneal epithelial wound healing.
Conclusions :
Our results revealed differentially expressed lncRNA patterns during corneal epithelial wound healing and a complex lncRNA-gene network that is modulated by these lncRNAs. Functional analysis will be performed to investigate the roles of specific lncRNAs in corneal epithelial wound healing.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2016 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, Wash., May 1-5, 2016.