Loss of corneal epithelial heparan sulfate leads to corneal degeneration and impaired wound healing.

ABSTRACT: PURPOSE:Heparan sulfate (HS) is a highly modified glycosaminoglycan (GAG) bound to a core protein to form heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) that are vital in many cellular processes ranging from development to adult physiology, as well as in disease, through interactions with various protein ligands. This study aimed to elucidate the role of HS in corneal epithelial homeostasis and wound healing. METHODS:An inducible quadruple transgenic mouse model was generated to excise Ext1 and Ndst1, which encode the critical HS chain elongation enzyme and N-deacetylase/N-sulfotransferase, respectively, in keratin 14-positive cells upon doxycycline induction. RESULTS:EXT(Δ/ΔCEpi) mice (deletion of Ext1 in corneal epithelium) induced at P20 presented progressive thinning of the corneal epithelium w

SUBMITTER: Coulson-Thomas VJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4432551 | biostudies-literature | 2015 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature