Abstract
Purpose :
Periostin (POSTN) is an extracellular matrix expressed during wound healing. Previous reports showed that POSTN promotes tissue fibrosis. In this study, we examined the expression and the role of POSTN in the conjunctival bleb of mice model of filtration surgery.
Methods :
Mice filtration surgery model were established by inserting the tip of 33 gauge needle into anterior chamber using POSTN knockout (POSTN-KO) mice and congenital wild-type (WT) mice. POSTN expression level in the conjunctival bleb was evaluated at 5, 7, 9 days after operation by real time-PCR and by the immunohistochemistry. An expression level of fibrosis-related gene (Acta2) was also quantified by real time-PCR. The same position of conjunctiva in the contralateral eye was used as a control.
Results :
POSTN positive immunostaining was observed in the bleb of WT mice. Significantly higher POSTN mRNA expression in the bleb tissue was observed at 5, 7, 9, days after filtration surgery compared to the control conjunctiva. The POSTN expression peaked at 7 days after surgery. The expression level of Acta2 in the bleb tissue was also higher than that of control conjunctival tissue at all points. The attenuation of Acta2 upregulation in the bleb tissue was observed in POSTN-KO mice compared to that of WT mice.
Conclusions :
The upregulation of POSTN in the bleb region was observed in the mice filtration surgery model. The upregulation of fibrosis-related gene (Acta 2) was attenuated in POSTN KO mice compared to those of WT mice. These findings suggest that POSTN may play some roles in the fibrosis of bleb region after filtration surgery.
This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.