Canonical Wnt signaling regulates extracellular matrix expression in the trabecular meshwork

Guadalupe Villarreal, Ayan Chatterjee, Sarah S. Oh, Dong Jin Oh, Min Hyung Kang, Douglas J. Rhee

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

29 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: Canonical Wnt signaling has emerged as a critical regulator of aqueous outflow facility and intraocular pressure (IOP). In this study, we examine the role of canonical Wnt signaling on extracellular matrix (ECM) expression in the trabecular meshwork (TM) and explore the molecular mechanisms involved.

Methods: β-catenin localization in human TM tissue was examined using immunofluorescent staining. Primary human TM cells were incubated with lithium chloride (LiCl) and the effect on active b-catenin expression was assessed by immunoblot. Adenovirus expressing a dominant-negative TCF4 mutant that lacks a β-catenin binding domain was used. Changes in the levels of the microRNA-29 (miR-29) family and ECM proteins were determined by realtime quantitative PCR and immunoblot analysis, respectively.

Results: β-catenin was expressed throughout the TM, with localization primarily to the plasma membrane. Incubation of TM cells with lithium chloride increased the expression of active β-catenin. Lithium chloride treatment upregulated miR-29b expression, and suppressed the levels of various ECM proteins under both basal and TGF-β2 stimulatory conditions. Infection of TM cells with a dominant-negative TCF4 mutant induced ECM levels without a significant change in the expression of the miR-29 family.

Conclusions: Collectively, our data identify the canonical Wnt signaling pathway as an important modulator of ECM expression in the TM and provide a mechanistic framework for its regulation of outflow facility and IOP.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)7433-7440
Number of pages8
JournalInvestigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science
Volume55
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 28 2014

Keywords

  • Extracellular matrix
  • Glaucoma
  • SPARC
  • TCF4
  • TGF-β2
  • Trabecular meshwork
  • Wnt signaling
  • miR-29
  • β-catenin

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ophthalmology
  • Sensory Systems
  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

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