No abstract

AQP5 plays a crucial role in maintaining corneal transparency and the barrier function of the cornea. Here, we found that in the corneas of Aqp5−/− mice at older than 6 months, loss of AQP5 significantly increased corneal neovascularization, inflammatory cell infiltration, and corneal haze. The results of immunofluorescence staining showed that upregulation of K1, K10, and K14, and downregulation of K12 and Pax6 were detected in Aqp5−/− cornea and primary corneal epithelial cells. Loss of AQP5 aggravated wound‐induced corneal neovascularization, inflammation, and haze. mRNA sequencing, western blotting, and qRT‐PCR showed that Wnt2 and Wnt6 were significantly decreased in Aqp5−/− corneas and primary corneal epithelial cells, accompanied by decreased aggregation in the cytoplasm and nucleus of β‐catenin. IIIC3 significantly suppressed corneal neovascularization, inflammation, haze, and maintained corneal transparent epithelial in Aqp5−/− corneas. We also found that pre‐stimulated Aqp5−/− primary corneal epithelial cells with IIIC3 caused the decreased expression of K1, K10, and K14, the increased expression of K12, Pax6, and increased aggregation in the cytoplasm and nucleus of β‐catenin. These findings revealed that AQP5 may regulate corneal epithelial homeostasis and function through the Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway. Together, we uncovered a possible role of AQP5 in determining corneal epithelial cell fate and providing a potential therapeutic target for corneal epithelial dysfunction.

No abstract

The lens is the main refractive structure of the eyeball. The transparency of the lens is important. 1 The inner lens fibre is completely surrounded by the transparent lens capsule. A layer of epithelial cells is attached to the medical surface of the anterior lens capsule. When the epithelial cells reach the equator, they continue to elongate and bend, and become to lens fibres cells. 2 Degradation of organelles begins in embryonic primary lens epithelial cells (LEC), and it continues in lens fibre cells after birth. 3,4 The transformation of lens epithelial cells into lens fibre cells occurs throughout life, but its level and speed gradually decrease with age. 4,5 Aquaporins (AQPs), water-selective channel proteins, allow water to move rapidly across the plasma membrane. Three aquaporins are expressed in mammalian cornea (AQP1, AQP3 and AQP5) and three in the lens (AQP0, AQP1 and AQP5). 6 AQP5 was expressed in lens

No abstract