Abstract
Purpose :
urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) is glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol-anchored cell surface receptor which is present in many tissues and has been identified in monocytes, neutrophil granulocytes, endothelial cells, macrophages, fibroblasts, and cancer cells. In this study, the role of urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) in corneal epithelial wound healing was investigated.
Methods :
The mice central corneal epithelium (3 mm in diameter) was scraped using a Straight microsurgery blade under a stereomicroscope. Expression of uPAR was determined by immunohistochemistry. To investigate whether uPA and uPAR expression were up-regulated by EGF treatments in human corneal epithelial cells (HCEC), the protein and mRNA levels of uPA and uPAR were determined. In addition, HCEC stably expressing u-PAR was established. Using the uPAR overexpressing cells, in vitro scratch assay was performed. The monolayer was mechanically wounded using a sterile 10 μl pipette tip and 24 hours after wounding, the lengths of scratched line were measured.
Results :
uPAR were expressed in the leading edge upon the corneal epithelial injury, and diminished after the wound was healed. In vitro study showed that EGF-stimulated uPA and uPAR expression increased in a time-dependent manner. In the results of scratch assay, uPAR overexpressing HCEC increased the wound closure rate compared with the control HCEC.
Conclusions :
This study suggests that the uPAR expression probably involve in migratory properties of corneal epithelial cells.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2016 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, Wash., May 1-5, 2016.