Hevin plays a pivotal role in corneal wound healing. PLoS One 2013;8(11):e81544
Date
12/05/2013Pubmed ID
24303054Pubmed Central ID
PMC3841198DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0081544Scopus ID
2-s2.0-84896702673 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 11 CitationsAbstract
BACKGROUND: Hevin is a matricellular protein involved in tissue repair and remodeling via interaction with the surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. In this study, we examined the functional role of hevin using a corneal stromal wound healing model achieved by an excimer laser-induced irregular phototherapeutic keratectomy (IrrPTK) in hevin-null (hevin(-/-)) mice. We also investigated the effects of exogenous supplementation of recombinant human hevin (rhHevin) to rescue the stromal cellular components damaged by the excimer laser.
METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Wild type (WT) and hevin (-/-) mice were divided into three groups at 4 time points- 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks. Group I served as naïve without any treatment. Group II received epithelial debridement and underwent IrrPTK using excimer laser. Group III received topical application of rhHevin after IrrPTK surgery for 3 days. Eyes were analyzed for corneal haze and matrix remodeling components using slit lamp biomicroscopy, in vivo confocal microscopy, light microscopy (LM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), immunohistochemistry (IHC) and western blotting (WB). IHC showed upregulation of hevin in IrrPTK-injured WT mice. Hevin (-/-) mice developed corneal haze as early as 1-2 weeks post IrrPTK-treatment compared to the WT group, which peaked at 3-4 weeks. They also exhibited accumulation of inflammatory cells, fibrotic components of ECM proteins and vascularized corneas as seen by IHC and WB. LM and TEM showed activated keratocytes (myofibroblasts), inflammatory debris and vascular tissues in the stroma. Exogenous application of rhHevin for 3 days reinstated inflammatory index of the corneal stroma similar to WT mice.
CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Hevin is transiently expressed in the IrrPTK-injured corneas and loss of hevin predisposes them to aberrant wound healing. Hevin (-/-) mice develop early corneal haze characterized by severe chronic inflammation and stromal fibrosis that can be rescued with exogenous administration of rhHevin. Thus, hevin plays a pivotal role in the corneal wound healing.
Author List
Chaurasia SS, Perera PR, Poh R, Lim RR, Wong TT, Mehta JSAuthor
Shyam S. Chaurasia PhD Associate Professor in the Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AnimalsApoptosis
Calcium-Binding Proteins
Cornea
Corneal Injuries
Corneal Stroma
Extracellular Matrix Proteins
Fibroblasts
Fibrosis
Gene Expression
In Situ Nick-End Labeling
Inflammation
Mice
Mice, Knockout
Neovascularization, Pathologic
Wound Healing