Purpose
To investigate the effect of COL8A2 repression on corneal endothelial cells (CECs) in vitro and in vivo.
Methods
Cultured human CECs (hCECs) were transfected with
COL8A2
siRNA (
siCOL8A2
), and the cell viability and proliferation rate were measured. The expression of cell proliferation–associated molecules was evaluated by Western blotting and real-time reverse transcription PCR. Cell shape, Wingless-INT (WNT) signaling, and mitochondrial oxidative stress were also measured. For in vivo experiments,
siCOL8A2
was transfected into rat CECs (rCECs), and corneal opacity and corneal endothelium were evaluated.
Results
After transfection with
siCOL8A2
, COL8A2 expression was reduced (80%). Cell viability, cell proliferation rate, cyclin D1 expression, and the number of cells in the S-phase were reduced in
siCOL8A2
-treated cells. The cell attained a fibroblast-like shape, and SNAI1, pSMAD2, and β-catenin expression, along with mitochondrial mass and oxidative stress levels, were altered. Corneal opacity increased, and the CECs were changed in rats in the
siCOL8A2
group.
Conclusions
COL8A2 is required to maintain normal wound healing and CEC function.