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  3. Deciphering the molecular symphony: Unraveling endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition in corneal endothelial cells

Deciphering the molecular symphony: Unraveling endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition in corneal endothelial cells

  • Exp Eye Res. 2024 Jan 20:240:109795. doi: 10.1016/j.exer.2024.109795.
Zhaoxiang Lu 1,  Haimiao Lin 2,  Jinming Li 2,  Yun Feng 3
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Institute of Medical Technology, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China; Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Restoration of Damaged Ocular Nerve, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.
  • 2 Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Restoration of Damaged Ocular Nerve, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.
  • 3 Institute of Medical Technology, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China; Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Restoration of Damaged Ocular Nerve, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
PMID: 38253308 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2024.109795
Abstract

Understanding the molecular complexity of this phenomenon provides innovative targets for maintaining phenotypic integrity during in vitro expansion, thereby advancing corneal endothelial tissue engineering. In this study, we established an in vitro model to simulate endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) in corneal endothelial cells. Through RNA sequencing, we identified 452 upregulated and 163 downregulated genes, resulting in a total of 615 differentially expressed genes. Key pathways enriched by GO and KEGG analysis include extracellular matrix (ECM) regulation and the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Potential hub proteins such as THBS1, ITGA5, COL1A1, and SNAI1/2 were also identified, and their dynamic changes at different time points (0, 2, 12, 24 h) were monitored. Uncovering these key pathways and genes may deepen our understanding of the mechanisms underlying EndMT in corneal endothelial cells, providing valuable insights for optimizing in vitro cultivation strategies.

Keywords

Corneal endothelial cells; EndMT; RNA-Seq; TGF-β1; Tissue engineering.

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