%0 Journal Article
%T miR-204-3p downregulates KRT16 and promotes corneal repair in tree shrew fungal keratitis model.
%A Jia J
%A Han Y
%A Jin L
%A Lu C
%A Wang W
%A Tong P
%A Li N
%A Sun X
%A Gu W
%A Dai J
%J Am J Transl Res
%V 14
%N 10
%D 2022
%M 36398250
%F 3.94
%X <B>OBJECTIVE: </B>Corneal repair is critical for the treatment and recovery of corneal injuries. However, the molecular mechanism underlying corneal repair remains unclear.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>A tree shrew model of corneal fungal infection was established by injecting Fusarium solani into the corneal stroma to study the role of miR-204-3p in repairing corneal injury induced by fungal keratitis and to explore the potential mechanisms underlying the repair process.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>miR-204-3p expression was significantly downregulated, while KRT16 expression was significantly upregulated after F. solani infection in the cornea of tree shrews. Moreover, miR-204-3p injection promoted corneal injury repair post-infection, potentially by downregulating KRT16 expression. Results of a luciferase reporter gene assay showed that miR-204-3p had a targeted relationship with KRT16. KRT16 protein expression levels decreased after miR-204-3p injection into the cornea with fungal keratitis, reducing the degree of corneal injury.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>In this study, we report for the first time that miR-204-3p and KRT16 influence the repair of corneal injury. In addition, their effects on the repair of corneal injury were studied in a tree shrew model, providing an experimental basis for the study of pathogenesis of human fungal keratitis.