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A gatekeeper mechanism of the noradrenergic neural control of tear secretion via the NA-Adra1a-Ucp2 pathway

ABSTRACT: Tears are mainly secreted from the lacrimal gland under precise controls by autonomic neural response to external sensory and psychogenic emotional stimulation. Dynamic volume and compositional changes of tears may lead to development of dry eye disease. The role of sympathetic nerve system (SNS) in controlling tear secretion and the noradrenergic neural circuit projecting from brain to lacrimal gland remain unexplored. Here, we discovered the dense sympathetic innervation of mouse lacrimal gland and investigated its physiological role in regulating tear production. In response to dry eye stimuli, SNS became overactivated with high noradrenaline (NA) in the lacrimal gland. Using gain- and loss-of-functional approaches, including pharmacologic, surgical, chemogenetic manipulations, and genetic knockout mice of specific adrenergic receptors, we demonstrated that both SNS ablation and NA blockage markedly increased tear volume and alleviated dry eye diseases. Mechanistically, activation of SNS released NA to reduce tear secretion through binding to α1a-adrenergic receptor (Adra1a) that targeted mitochondrial Ucp2 in the acinar and myoepithelial cells of the lacrimal gland. Consequently, antagonization of NA and Ucp2 markedly increased tear secretion. Using a retrograde neuronal tracing technique in combination with physiologic experiments of tear reduction and hypersecretion, we identified a novel noradrenergic neural circuit projecting from the brain locus coeruleus to the lacrimal gland and the orchestrated controlling of parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system for tear secretion. Together, our data define a novel NA-Adra1a-Ucp2 signaling pathway as a gatekeeper mechanism for controlling tear secretion from the lacrimal gland. These findings provide novel mechanistic insights into sympathetic role in tear secretion and potential therapeutic options for treatment of dry eye disease.

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

PROVIDER: GSE224484 | GEO | 2025/05/08

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Purpose: Identify the differentially expressed circular RNA (circRNA) and elucidate their potential function in AQP5 knockout (AQP5-/-) mice with primary dry eye phenotype. Methods: A slit lamp examination was performed on AQP5 knockout mice to assess corneal epithelial defect by fluorescein sodium staining. Hematoxylin-eosin staining and transmission electron microscope analysis were performed to access the structure of lacrimal gland epithelial cells. The expression profiles of circRNA and messenger RNA (mRNA) were determined by microarray analysis. The selected circRNA was verified by quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis were used to predict biological functions and potential pathways of parental genes involved in lacrimal gland epithelial cell changes. According to the bioinformatics analysis of identified circRNA, we can predict a circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network. Results: AQP5-/- mice exhibit spontaneous dry eye symptoms. AQP5 deficiency obviously changes the structure of lacrimal gland epithelial cells. Analysis showed that compared to AQP5+/+ mice, 30 circRNAs in the lacrimal glands of AQP5‑/- mice had differential expression (fold change ≥ 2.0, P < 0.05). Nine upregulated circRNAs were identified by qRT-PCR; nine upregulated validated circRNAs, 40 altered microRNAs (miRNAs), and nine upregulated mRNAs were involved in the network analysis. KEGG analysis showed these nine target genes were expressed in phagosomes. Conclusions: AQP5-/- mice have primary and stable dry eye phenotypes from birth. The study identified different expressed circRNAs in lacrimal glands between AQP5-/- and AQP5+/+ mice, predicting a circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network of phagosomes. CircRNA likely plays an important role in lacrimal gland epithelial cell pathogenesis. Therefore, it is reasonable to use circRNA as a potential therapeutic target for dry eyes.

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A gatekeeper mechanism of the noradrenergic neural control of tear secretion via the NA-Adra1a-Ucp2 pathway

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