Overexpression of Pax6 in mouse cornea directly alters corneal epithelial cells: changes in immune function, vascularization, and differentiation.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

To assess whether Pax6 functions directly in the cornea, a corneal-preferred promoter was used to overexpress Pax6 specifically in the cornea.

Methods

Transgenic mice harboring a construct containing mouse Pax6 coding sequences fused downstream of the aldehyde dehydrogenase 3a1 (Aldh3a1) promoter were generated (Pax6 Tg). Pax6 expression was analyzed by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Eye sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, Schiff reagent, and fluorescein, to assess morphologic changes, the presence of goblet cells, and barrier integrity, respectively. Gene expression changes in mildly affected Pax6 Tg corneas were compared to age-matched, wild-type (WT) corneas by microarray analysis and quantitative PCR. Promoter regulation of several different

SUBMITTER: Davis J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3175973 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature