Canonical NF-κB signaling maintains corneal epithelial integrity and prevents corneal aging via retinoic acid.

ABSTRACT: Disorders of the transparent cornea affect millions of people worldwide. However, how to maintain and/or regenerate this organ remains unclear. Here, we show that Rela (encoding a canonical NF-κB subunit) ablation in K14⁺ corneal epithelial stem cells not only disrupts corneal regeneration but also results in age-dependent epithelial deterioration, which triggers aberrant wound-healing processes including stromal remodeling, neovascularization, epithelial metaplasia, and plaque formation at the central cornea. These anomalies are largely recapitulated in normal mice that age naturally. Mechanistically, Rela deletion suppresses expression of Aldh1a1, an enzyme required for retinoic acid synthesis from vitamin A. Retinoic acid administration blocks development of ocu

SUBMITTER: Yu Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8192125 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature