Shp2-mediated MAPK pathway regulates ΔNp63 in epithelium to promote corneal innervation and homeostasis.

ABSTRACT: Corneal nerve fibers serving sensory, reflex, and neurotrophic functions sustain corneal homeostasis and transparency to promote normal visual function. It is not known whether corneal epithelium is also important for the corneal innervation. Herein, we generated a compound transgenic mouse strain, K14rtTA;tetO-Cre (TC);Shp2^flox/flox, in which Shp2 was conditionally knocked out from K14-positive cells including corneal epithelium (Shp2^K14ce-cko) upon doxycycline (dox) administration. Our data reveal that Shp2^K14ce-cko caused corneal denervation. More specifically, corneal epithelium thickness and corneal sensitivity reduced dramatically in Shp2^K14ce-cko mice. In addition, corneal epithelial wound healing after debridement was delayed substantiall

SUBMITTER: Okada Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7102931 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature