July 2019
Volume 60, Issue 9
Open Access
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   July 2019
A model of Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy – related extracellular matrix expression by miR-29 knockdown in vitro
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • Agathe Hribek
    Experimental Ophthalmology, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
  • Thomas Clahsen
    Experimental Ophthalmology, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
  • Sebastian E Siebelmann
    Ophthalmology, University Hospital Cologne, Germany
  • Ludwig M Heindl
    Ophthalmology, University Hospital Cologne, Germany
  • Björn Bachmann
    Ophthalmology, University Hospital Cologne, Germany
  • Claus Cursiefen
    Ophthalmology, University Hospital Cologne, Germany
  • Mario Matthaei
    Ophthalmology, University Hospital Cologne, Germany
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships   Agathe Hribek, None; Thomas Clahsen, None; Sebastian Siebelmann, None; Ludwig Heindl, None; Björn Bachmann, None; Claus Cursiefen, None; Mario Matthaei, None
  • Footnotes
    Support  MA5110/5-1
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science July 2019, Vol.60, 2181. doi:
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      Agathe Hribek, Thomas Clahsen, Sebastian E Siebelmann, Ludwig M Heindl, Björn Bachmann, Claus Cursiefen, Mario Matthaei; A model of Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy – related extracellular matrix expression by miR-29 knockdown in vitro. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2019;60(9):2181.

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

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Abstract

Purpose : The miR-29 family is known to be significantly downregulated in the endothelium of Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD)-patients and functionally involved in the regulation of ECM homeostasis. Thus, in this study the impact of reduced miR-29 expression on extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition in corneal endothelial cells (CECs) was further investigated.

Methods : To uncover the impact of miR-29 on ECM genes related to FECD, a siRNA based miR-29 knockdown was performed in HCEC-12, a human corneal endothelium derived cell line. Success of the knockdown experiment as well as the expression of well-known ECM associated miR-29 targets were examined by qPCR. A corresponding immunofluorescence staining of FECD and control endothelium was used to analyze ECM components on protein level and to identify their staining pattern.

Results : Knockdown of miR-29a (n= 3) in HCEC-12 cell culture model was highly significant (p ≤ 0.0001) and temporally constant. Downregulation of miR-29 led to a significant upregulation of COL3A1 (p ≤ 0.001) 96h after cell transfection. Furthermore, a trend for upregulation of COL1A1 and COL4A1 was detected in knockdown samples. Increased ECM expression of individual miR-29 target proteins was localized in the center of FECD-endothelium by immunofluorescence staining.

Conclusions : Knockdown of miR-29a in corneal endothelial cells induces a FECD-like expression of ECM-proteins in vitro. Further studies will deepen our knowledge about the impact of miR-29 on CECs and help to establish miR-29 as a therapeutic target in FECD.

This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.

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