title: Photoreactivation of ultraviolet radiation-induced basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and the role of bFGF in corneal lesion formation in Monodelphis domestica.
abstract: Chronic ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure to the eyes of Monodelphis domestica causes corneal opacification, neovascularization, and fibrosarcoma induction. By immunohistochemistry and Western blotting, we have shown that one to four exposures of the eyes of this opossum to UVR enhances basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) expression by the corneal epithelium. Treatment with photoreactivating light, which selectively removes UVR-induced pyrimidine dimers, suppresses bFGF induction, indicating that UVR induction of bFGF is ultimately due to DNA damage. Furthermore, UVR-induced corneal tumors derived from corneal keratocytes express bFGF mRNA and protein, as determined by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. Taken together, these findings suggest that bFGF acts in both an autocrine and a paracrine manner to stimulate corneal fibroplasia, neovascularization, and tumor development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Physiology and the Cancer Research and Treatment Center, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA. rley@unm.edu
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Ley
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Miska
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Kusewitt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003315:Cornea / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000528:radiation effects; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000528:radiation effects; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009893:Opossums; D011740:Pyrimidine Dimers / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D011740:Pyrimidine Dimers; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2