目的:角膜修复对于角膜损伤的治疗和恢复至关重要。然而,角膜修复的分子机制尚不清楚.
方法:通过在角膜基质中注射枯萎镰刀菌建立角膜真菌感染的树sh模型,研究miR-204-3p在修复真菌性角膜炎诱导的角膜损伤中的作用,并探讨修复过程的潜在机制。
结果:miR-204-3p表达显著下调,而KRT16表达显著上调。此外,miR-204-3p注射促进感染后角膜损伤修复,可能通过下调KRT16表达。荧光素酶报告基因测定的结果显示miR-204-3p与KRT16具有靶向关系。在真菌性角膜炎的角膜中注射miR-204-3p后KRT16蛋白表达水平下降,降低角膜损伤程度。
结论:在这项研究中,我们首次报道miR-204-3p和KRT16对角膜损伤修复的影响。此外,它们对角膜损伤修复的影响在树sh模型中进行了研究,为人类真菌性角膜炎发病机制的研究提供实验依据。
OBJECTIVE: Corneal repair is critical for the treatment and recovery of corneal injuries. However, the molecular mechanism underlying corneal repair remains unclear.
METHODS: 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.
RESULTS: 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.
CONCLUSIONS: 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.