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Differential roles of FOXC2 in the trabecular meshwork and Schlemm’s canal in glaucomatous pathology

ABSTRACT: Impaired development and maintenance of Schlemm's canal (SC) are associated with perturbed aqueous humor outflow and intraocular pressure. The angiopoietin (ANGPT)/TIE2 signaling pathway regulates SC development and maintenance, whereas the molecular mechanisms of crosstalk between SC and the neural crest (NC)-derived neighboring tissue, the trabecular meshwork (TM), are poorly understood. Here, we show NC-specific forkhead box (Fox)c2 deletion in mice results in impaired SC morphogenesis, loss of SC identity, and elevated intraocular pressure. Visible-light optical coherence tomography analysis further demonstrated functional impairment of the SC in response to changes in intraocular pressure in NC-Foxc2 -/- mice, suggesting altered TM biomechanics. Single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis identified that this phenotype is predominately characterized by transcriptional changes associated with extracellular matrix organization and stiffness in TM cell clusters, including increased matrix metalloproteinase expression, which can cleave the TIE2 ectodomain to produce soluble TIE2. Moreover, endothelial-specific Foxc2 deletion impaired SC morphogenesis because of reduced TIE2 expression, which was rescued by deleting the TIE2 phosphatase VE-PTP. Thus, Foxc2 is critical in maintaining SC identity and morphogenesis via TM-SC crosstalk.

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

PROVIDER: GSE190462 | GEO | 2023/08/29

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Impaired drainage of aqueous humor through the trabecular meshwork (TM) culminating in increased intraocular pressure is a major risk factor for glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness worldwide. Regulation of aqueous humor drainage through the TM, however, is poorly understood. The role of RhoA GTPase-mediated contractile activity, cell adhesive interactions, and gene expression in regulation of aqueous humor outflow was investigated using adenoviral vector-driven expression of constitutively active RhoA (RhoAV14). Organ cultured anterior segments from porcine eyes expressing RhoAV14 exhibited significant reduction of aqueous humor outflow. Cultured TM cells expressing RhoAV14 revealed strong contractile cell morphology, increased actin stress fibers and focal adhesions, along with increased levels of phosphorylated myosin II, and collagen IV, fibronectin and laminin. cDNA microarray analysis of RNA extracted from RhoAV14 expressing human TM cells revealed a significant increase in the expression of genes encoding extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, cytokines, integrins, cytoskeletal proteins and signaling proteins. Conversely, various ECM proteins stimulated robust increases in phosphorylation of myosin II, paxillin and focal adhesion kinase, and activated Rho GTPase and actin stress fiber formation in TM cells, indicating a potential regulatory feedback interaction between ECM-induced mechanical strain and Rho GTPase-induced isometric tension in TM cells. Collectively, these data demonstrate that sustained activation of Rho GTPase signaling in the aqueous humor outflow pathway increases resistance to aqueous humor outflow through the trabecular pathway by influencing the contractile force, cell adhesive interactions, and the expression of ECM proteins and cytokines in TM cells. Keywords: Gene Expression Two condition experiment: Human trabecular mesh work cells infected with Adenivirus expressing GFP Vs Adenovirus expressing GFP and constitutively active RhoAV14

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Differential roles of FOXC2 in the trabecular meshwork and Schlemm’s canal in glaucomatous pathology

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