Expression Pattern of Connexins in the Corneal and Limbal Epithelium of a Primate

Yuan, Xiaoyong; Chen, Zhuo; Yang, Zhuo; Gao, Junfang; Zhang, Aijun; Wu, Samuel M.; Jacoby, Roy A.

doi:10.1097/ico.0b013e318185268e

Cited by 11 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 21 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Gap junctional complexes are also present in the epithelium, fibroblasts and endothelium of the cornea. In primates and humans, GJA8 is expressed in corneal epithelia and fibre cells, with low expression in the mouse cornea. There are no reports of corneal abnormalities in mutant Gja8 and/or Gja3 mice.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

New mutations in GJA8 expand the phenotype to include total sclerocornea

Grigg

Prokudin

et al. 2017

Clinical Genetics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This project expands the disease spectrum for mutations in GJA8 to include total sclerocornea, rudimentary lenses and microphthalmia, in addition to this gene's previously known role in isolated congenital cataracts. Ophthalmic findings revealed bilateral total sclerocornea in 3 probands, with small abnormal lenses in 2 of the cases, and cataracts and microphthalmia in 1 case. Next-generation sequencing revealed de novo heterozygous mutations affecting the same codon of GJA8 : (c.281G>A; p.(Gly94Glu) and c.280G>C; p.(Gly94Arg)) in 2 of the probands, in addition to the c.151G>A; p.(Asp51Asn) mutation we had previously identified in the third case. In silico analysis predicted all of the mutations to be pathogenic. These cases show that deleterious, heterozygous mutations in GJA8 can lead to a severe ocular phenotype of total sclerocornea, abnormal lenses, and/or cataracts with or without microphthalmia, broadening the phenotype associated with this gene. GJA8 should be included when investigating patients with the severe anterior segment abnormality of total sclerocornea.

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

New mutations in GJA8 expand the phenotype to include total sclerocornea

Grigg

Prokudin

et al. 2017

Clinical Genetics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Yuan et al (24) detected 10 Cx isoforms (Cx26, Cx30, Cx30.3, Cx31, Cx31.1, Cx32, Cx43, Cx45, Cx50 and Cx58) in the central and peripheral primate corneal epithelium by qPCR. Laux-Fenton et al (25) demonstrated that eight Cx transcripts (Cx26, Cx30.3, Cx31, Cx31.1, Cx33, Cx37, Cx43 and Cx50) were present in rat central cornea, and the peripheral cornea additionally expressed Cx30, Cx40, Cx45 and Cx46.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Djalilian et al suggested that decreasing the Cx26 levels of epithelialized skin lesions may encourage keratinocyte differentiation and immune response modulation in the skin (42). There are few publications about Cx26 in corneas in a pathological state; however, their distribution in normal corneas has been investigated (24,25). In the present study, Cx26 expression was shown to be upregulated at the mRNA and protein levels in chemically burned and infected corneas, which may have subsequently impaired the barrier function of these corneas.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Connexin expression patterns in diseased human corneas

Zhai

Wang

Tao

2014

Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The present study aimed to explore the feasibility of using antisense connexin (Cx) treatment to promote corneal wound healing, and to investigate the changes of Cx gap junction proteins in terms of mRNA, protein expression and distribution in human corneas that were diseased due to various causes. A total of 13 diseased corneas were studied, which were obtained from five eyes injured by chemical burns, five infected eyes and three eyes with Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS)-affected corneas. Total RNA was extracted from the corneas and processed by qPCR with isoform primers to detect the expression of eight Cxs. Flow cytometry was adopted to determine the differences in the expression levels of Cx26, Cx31.1 and Cx43. Immunofluorescence was employed to show the localization of the three aforementioned Cxs. The qPCR results indicated that of the eight Cxs, only Cx26, Cx31.1 and Cx43 were upregulated in diseased corneas. Flow cytometry showed that all the diseased corneal tissues, with the exception of the SJS-affected corneas, showed a significantly higher percentage of cells that expressed Cx26 and Cx31.1 compared with the percentage in normal corneas (P<0.05). For Cx43, all three injured corneal groups showed a significantly higher percentage of cells that expressed Cx43 compared with the percentage in normal corneas (P<0.05). Immunohistochemical staining showed that the localization of Cx26, Cx31.1 and Cx43 differed between normal corneas and diseased corneas. This study elucidated the alteration of Cx expression patterns in several corneal diseases. The results indicated that Cx26, Cx31.1 and Cx43 are upregulated in chemically burned and infected corneas at the mRNA and protein levels, whereas only Cx43 is upregulated in SJS-affected corneas.

show abstract

“…15,29 Previous studies have indicated that connexin levels in the epithelium change after corneal wounding. Ratkay-Traub et al 17 demonstrated that Cx43 and Cx26 were upregulated in rabbit cornea after excimer corneal wounding, but Cx43 was reduced at the epithelial edge itself that was migrating to close the wound.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improved Corneal Wound Healing through Modulation of Gap Junction Communication Using Connexin43-Specific Antisense Oligodeoxynucleotides

Grupcheva

Laux

Rupenthal

et al. 2012

Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

PURPOSE. Gap junctions play a major role in corneal wound healing. This study used reproducible models of corneal wound healing to evaluate the effect of a gap junction channel modulator, connexin43 (Cx43) antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (AsODN), on corneal healing dynamics. METHODS. A mechanical scrape wound model was used to evaluate Cx43 AsODN penetration and initial wound reepithelialization 12 hours postsurgery. Thereafter, detailed analyses of corneal edema, inflammation, and healing were performed in an excimer laser surface ablation model. In vivo confocal microscopy determined clinical parameters (edema, haze) and cellular changes (stromal hypercellularity, reepithelialization), whereas histology and immunohistochemistry were used to quantify stromal edema, inflammation, and reepithelialization. RESULTS. Cx43 AsODN penetrated through the hydrophilic stroma where the epithelium had been removed and accumulated in the basal epithelium close to the wound edge. Twelve hours after scrape wounding, Cx43 AsODN-treated eyes showed a significant reduction in wound area compared with the vehicle alone (1.59 Ϯ 0.37 and 2.29 Ϯ 0.58 mm 2 , respectively, P Ͻ 0.01). After excimer laser ablation, stromal edema and inflammation were reduced, with endothelial structures being clearly visible, and reepithelialization rates were again increased in Cx43 AsODN-treated eyes. Histologic analysis confirmed reduced edema in the central wound site and at the periphery of treated corneas (P Ͻ 0.05), whereas immunohistochemistry showed lower Cx43 levels (P Ͻ 0.05), reduced myofibroblast activation, and improved epithelial basal lamina deposition in antisense-treated wounds (P Ͻ 0.01). CONCLUSIONS. Application of Cx43 AsODN to the cornea reduces stromal edema and inflammation, promoting faster wound closure and a more uniform repair of the epithelial basal lamina after laser ablation. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci.

show abstract

Expression Pattern of Connexins in the Corneal and Limbal Epithelium of a Primate

Abstract: The complex distribution pattern of the connexins suggests that selected isoforms play important roles in maintaining corneal homeostasis.

Cited by 11 publications

References 21 publications

New mutations in GJA8 expand the phenotype to include total sclerocornea

New mutations in GJA8 expand the phenotype to include total sclerocornea

Connexin expression patterns in diseased human corneas

Improved Corneal Wound Healing through Modulation of Gap Junction Communication Using Connexin43-Specific Antisense Oligodeoxynucleotides

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About