title: β-Catenin promotes host resistance against Pseudomonas aeruginosa keratitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the role of β-catenin in Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) keratitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Western-blot and immunostaining assay were used to determine the β-catenin protein expression in C57BL/6 (B6) corneas and in in vitro cultured murine cells including macrophage-like RAW264.7 cells, bone marrow-derived neutrophils and A6(1) corneal epithelial cells. B6 mice were subconjunctivally injected with lentivirus expressing active mutant of β-catenin (β-cat-lentivirus) vs appropriate control (Ctl-lentivirus), and then infected with PA. Pro-inflammatory cytokine levels were examined using real-time PCR and ELISA, and bacterial burden was assessed using plate count assays both in vivo and in vitro.
  
  
  RESULTS
  β-Catenin protein expression was decreased in B6 corneas, murine macrophage-like RAW264.7 cells, mouse bone marrow-derived neutrophils and mouse A6(1) corneal epithelial cells after PA infection. Over-expression of β-catenin in B6 corneas significantly reduced the severity of corneal disease after PA infection, by decreasing pro-inflammatory cytokine expression and bacterial burden. In vitro data further demonstrated that over-expression of β-catenin suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokine production but enhanced bacterial clearance in macrophages and neutrophils.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  β-Catenin reduces the severity of PA keratitis by decreasing corneal inflammation and bacterial burden.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Institute of Human Virology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; Key Laboratory of Tropical Diseases Control (Sun Yat-sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China; Division of Clinical Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhongshan 528403, China.
authors.forename: Kang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Xinxin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Nie
authors.forename: Qiuchan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Yongjian
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Dandan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Meiyu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Minhao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D003315:Cornea / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D018450:Disease Progression; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D007634:Keratitis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000276:immunology*; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D051176:beta Catenin
keywords: Bacterial killing; Corneal infection; Inflammation; β-Catenin