Project description:MicroRNAs are powerful gene expression regulators, but their corneal repertoire and potential changes in corneal diseases remain unknown. Our purpose was to identify miRNAs altered in the human diabetic cornea by microarray analysis, and to examine their effects on wound healing in cultured telomerase-immortalized human corneal epithelial cells (HCEC) in vitro. Using microarrays, 29 miRNAs were identified as differentially expressed in diabetic samples. Two miRNA candidates showing the highest fold increased in expression in the diabetic cornea were confirmed by Q-PCR and further characterized. HCEC transfection with h-miR-146a or h-miR-424 significantly retarded wound closure, but their respective antagomirs significantly enhanced wound healing vs. controls. Cells treated with h-miR-146a or h-miR-424 had decreased p-p38 and p-EGFR staining, but these increased over control levels close to the wound edge upon antagomir treatment. In conclusion, several miRNAs with increased expression in human diabetic central corneas were found. Two such miRNAs inhibited cultured corneal epithelial cell wound healing. Dysregulation of miRNA expression in human diabetic cornea may be an important mediator of abnormal wound healing. Total RNA was extracted from age-matched human autopsy normal (n=6) and diabetic (n=6) central corneas, Flash Tag end-labeled, and hybridized to Affymetrix® GeneChip® miRNA Arrays. Select miRNAs associated with diabetic cornea were validated by quantitative RT-PCR (Q-PCR) and by in situ hybridization (ISH) in independent samples.
Project description:MicroRNAs are powerful gene expression regulators, but their corneal repertoire and potential changes in corneal diseases remain unknown. Our purpose was to identify miRNAs altered in the human diabetic cornea by microarray analysis, and to examine their effects on wound healing in cultured telomerase-immortalized human corneal epithelial cells (HCEC) in vitro. Using microarrays, 29 miRNAs were identified as differentially expressed in diabetic samples. Two miRNA candidates showing the highest fold increased in expression in the diabetic cornea were confirmed by Q-PCR and further characterized. HCEC transfection with h-miR-146a or h-miR-424 significantly retarded wound closure, but their respective antagomirs significantly enhanced wound healing vs. controls. Cells treated with h-miR-146a or h-miR-424 had decreased p-p38 and p-EGFR staining, but these increased over control levels close to the wound edge upon antagomir treatment. In conclusion, several miRNAs with increased expression in human diabetic central corneas were found. Two such miRNAs inhibited cultured corneal epithelial cell wound healing. Dysregulation of miRNA expression in human diabetic cornea may be an important mediator of abnormal wound healing.
Project description:MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, stable non-coding RNA molecules with regulatory function and marked tissue specificity that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression, however their role in fungal keratitis remain unknown. Our purpose was to identify the miRNAs in human cornea from fungal keratitis patients and understand their key role in regulation of pathogenesis. Corneal samples from normal cadaver (n=3) and fungal keratitis (n=5) patients were pooled separately and total RNA was extracted. Deep sequencing was done using Illumina HiSeq1000 platform to identify miRNA profile. We identified seventy five differentially expressed miRNAs in fungal keratitis corneas. Select miRNAs were validated by real-time RT-PCR (Q-PCR). We predicted their role in regulating target genes in several pathways by combining miRNA target genes and pathway analysis, and mRNA expression of select target genes were further analysed by Q-PCR. MiR-21-5p, miR-223-3p, miR-146b-5p, miR-155-5p, miR-511-5p were found to be involved in inflammatory and immune responses, regulating Toll like receptor signaling pathways, which is of particular interest. MiR-451a with an increased expression in keratitis may have a role in wound healing by targeting Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF). Further, we highlighted that Neurotrophin signaling pathway may play a role in wound healing process. One novel miRNA was also detected in cornea. In conclusion, several miRNAs with high expression in fungal keratitis corneas point towards their role in regulation of pathogenesis. Further insights in understanding miRNAs role in wound healing and inflammation may help design new therapeutic strategies. Control and fungal keratitis, human corneal miRNA profiles were generated using IlluminaHiseq1000 platform
Project description:At present, there is no effective treatment for diabetic wounds, and the cost of treatment is high. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) plays an important role in the process of diabetic wound healing. By regulating the expression of target genes, it regulates growth factors, cytokines and signal pathways, thereby affecting various stages of ulcer healing such as hemostasis, anti-inflammatory, proliferation and remodeling. In this study, differential expression of miRNAs in diabetic wound was screened. MiR-206 was selected as the research object to detect the effect of miR-206 on the proliferation of fibroblasts and vascular endothelial cell by regulating HIF-1?. Finally, in vivo studies showed that miR-206 antagomir could promote the expression of HIF-1?, CD34 and VEGF, and further promote wound healing in diabetic rats.
Project description:Corneal injuries remain a major cause of consultation in the ophthalmology clinics worldwide. Repair of corneal wounds is a complex mechanism that involves cell death, migration, proliferation, differentiation, and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. In the present study, we used a tissue-engineered, two-layers (epithelium and stroma) human cornea as a biomaterial to study both the cellular and molecular mechanisms of wound healing. Gene profiling on microarrays revealed important alterations in the pattern of genes expressed by tissue-engineered corneas in response to wound healing. Expression of many MMPs-encoding genes was shown by microarray and qPCR analyses to increase in the migrating epithelium of wounded corneas. Many of these enzymes were converted into their enzymatically active form as wound closure proceeded. In addition, expression of MMPs by human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) was affected both by the stromal fibroblasts and the collagen-enriched ECM they produce. Most of all, results from mass spectrometry analyses provided evidence that a fully stratified epithelium is required for proper synthesis and organization of the ECM on which the epithelial cells adhere. In conclusion, and because of the many characteristics it shares with the native cornea, this human two layers corneal substitute may prove particularly useful to decipher the mechanistic details of corneal wound healing. Primary cultures of human corneal epithelial cells cultivated on BSA (number of replicates: 7), Collagen type I (number of replicates: 2), Collagen type IV (number of replicates: 2), Fibronectin (number of replicates: 2), Tenascin C (number of replicates: 2) and Laminin (number of replicates: 2) matrix. Central, internal and external ring of wounded Tissue-engineered human cornea.
Project description:Urinary bladder wound healing is today pooorly chracterized. MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNA molecules with regulatory functions. In this study we aimed at identifying microRNAs expressed during bladder wound healing. We performed Affymetrix microRNA profiling of the rodent urinary bladder during healing of a surgically created wound.
Project description:Analysis of ex vivo isolated lymphatic endothelial cells from the dermis of patients to define type 2 diabetes-induced changes. Results preveal aberrant dermal lymphangiogenesis and provide insight into its role in the pathogenesis of persistent skin inflammation in type 2 diabetes. The ex vivo dLEC transcriptome reveals a dramatic influence of the T2D environment on multiple molecular and cellular processes, mirroring the phenotypic changes seen in T2D affected skin. The positively and negatively correlated dLEC transcripts directly cohere to prolonged inflammatory periods and reduced infectious resistance of patients´ skin. Further, lymphatic vessels might be involved in tissue remodeling processes during T2D induced skin alterations associated with impaired wound healing and altered dermal architecture. Hence, dermal lymphatic vessels might be directly associated with T2D disease promotion. Global gene expression profile of normal dermal lymphatic endothelial cells (ndLECs) compared to dermal lymphatic endothelial cells derived from type 2 diabetic patients (dLECs).Quadruplicate biological samples were analyzed from human lymphatic endothelial cells (4 x diabetic; 4 x non-diabetic). subsets: 1 disease state set (dLECs), 1 control set (ndLECs)
Project description:The cornea, transparent and outermost structure of camera-type eyes, is prone to environmental challenges, but has remarkable wound healing capabilities which enables to preserve vision. The manner in which cell plasticity impacts wound healing remains to be determined. In this study, we report rapid wound closure after zebrafish corneal epithelium abrasion. Furthermore, by investigating the cellular and molecular events taking place during corneal epithelial closure, we show the induction of a bilateral response to a unilateral wound. Our transcriptomic results, together with our TGF-beta receptor inhibition experiments, demonstrate conclusively the crucial role of TGF-beta signaling in corneal wound healing. Finally, our results on Pax6 expression and bilateral wound healing, demonstrate the decisive impact of epithelial cell plasticity on the pace of healing. Altogether, our study describes terminally differentiated cell competencies in the healing of an injured cornea. These findings will enhance the translation of research on cell plasticity to organ regeneration.
Project description:MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, stable non-coding RNA molecules with regulatory function and marked tissue specificity that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression, however their role in fungal keratitis remain unknown. Our purpose was to identify the miRNAs in human cornea from fungal keratitis patients and understand their key role in regulation of pathogenesis. Corneal samples from normal cadaver (n=3) and fungal keratitis (n=5) patients were pooled separately and total RNA was extracted. Deep sequencing was done using Illumina HiSeq1000 platform to identify miRNA profile. We identified seventy five differentially expressed miRNAs in fungal keratitis corneas. Select miRNAs were validated by real-time RT-PCR (Q-PCR). We predicted their role in regulating target genes in several pathways by combining miRNA target genes and pathway analysis, and mRNA expression of select target genes were further analysed by Q-PCR. MiR-21-5p, miR-223-3p, miR-146b-5p, miR-155-5p, miR-511-5p were found to be involved in inflammatory and immune responses, regulating Toll like receptor signaling pathways, which is of particular interest. MiR-451a with an increased expression in keratitis may have a role in wound healing by targeting Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF). Further, we highlighted that Neurotrophin signaling pathway may play a role in wound healing process. One novel miRNA was also detected in cornea. In conclusion, several miRNAs with high expression in fungal keratitis corneas point towards their role in regulation of pathogenesis. Further insights in understanding miRNAs role in wound healing and inflammation may help design new therapeutic strategies.
Project description:Wound healing is a multi-step process to rapidly restore barrier function. This process is often impaired in diabetic patients resulting in chronic wounds and amputation. We previously found that paradoxical activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway via topical administration of the BRAF inhibitor vemurafenib accelerates wound healing by activating keratinocyte proliferation and reepithelialization pathways in healthy mice. Herein, we investigated whether this wound healing acceleration also occurs in impaired diabetic wounds and found that topical vemurafenib not only improves wound healing in a murine diabetic wound model, but unexpectedly promotes hair follicle regeneration. Neogenic hair follicles expressing Sox-9, CD34 and K15 were found in wounds of diabetic and non-diabetic mice, and their formation can be prevented by blocking downstream MEK signaling. Thus, topically applied BRAF inhibitors may accelerate wound healing, and promote the restoration of improved skin architecture in both normal and impaired wounds.