MiR-335 promotes corneal neovascularization by Targeting EGFR

Abstract

Background Corneal neovascularization (CRNV) is a severe threat to the vision of people. MicroRNA-335 (miR-335) has the function of facilitating angiogenesis. However, whether miR-335 regulates the progression of CRNV remains unclear. Methods The miR-335 expressions in CRNV rats induced by corneal suture and HUVECs induced by b-FGF were detected by quantitative real-time PCR. For the miR-335 function, wound healing and tube formation assays were performed. For the miR-335 mechanism, a dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was conducted. Besides, for the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) function, Cell Counting Kit-8 and wound healing assays were performed. Meanwhile, the rescue assay was used to assess the miR-335/EGFR function in the migration and angiogenesis of b-FGF-treated HUVECs. Results Functionally, the miR-335 knockdown weakened the migration and angiogenesis of b-FGF-treated HUVECs, while the miR-335 overexpression showed an opposite trend. Mechanistically, miR-335 interacted with EGFR and negatively regulated the expression of EGFR. The rescue assay illustrated that miR-335 regulated the migration and angiogenesis of b-FGF-treated HUVECs through EGFR. Conclusions In general, our data confirmed that miR-335 facilitated the process of CRNV by targeting EGFR.

Limbal Epithelial Stem Cells in the Diabetic Cornea

“…Both human and animal studies have identified miRNAs within the cornea which regulate a variety of homeostatic processes including cell differentiation [88], proliferation [89], migration [90], apoptosis [91] and SC maintenance [88]. They can also modulate pathophysiological processes including corneal wound healing [90,[92][93][94][95], neovascularization [96,97], inflammation [98] and immune defense [99,100]. Reports of differential miRNA expression across anatomically distinct ocular surface regions, such as corneal, limbal and conjunctival compartments [101][102][103], suggests that targeting specific miRNAs may serve as amenable therapeutic options for correcting ocular defects.…”