Increased expression of CCN2 in the red flashing light-induced myopia in guinea pigs.
Visual environment plays an important role in the occurrence of myopia. We previously showed that the different flashing lights could result in distinct effects on the ocular growth and development of myopia. CCN2 has been reported to regulate various cellular functions and biological processes. However, whether CCN2 signaling was involved in the red flashing light-induced myopia still remains unknown. In the present study, we investigated the effects of the red flashing lights exposure on the refraction and axial length of the eyes in vivo and then evaluated their effects on the expression of CCN2 and TGF- β in sclera tissues. Our data showed that the eyes exposed to the red flashing light became more myopic with a significant increase of the axial length and decrease of the refraction. Both CCN2 and TGF- β , as well as p38 MAPK and PI3K, were highly expressed in the sclera tissues exposed to the red flashing light. Both CCN2 and TGF- β were found to have the same gene expression profile in vivo. In conclusion, our findings found that CCN2 signaling pathway plays an important role in the red flashing light-induced myopia in vivo. Moreover, our study establishes a useful animal model for experimental myopia research.
Department of Ophthalmology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China. deltabiotechsd@126.com
Hong
H
Wang
Kang
K
Zhuang
Lei
L
Gao
Linna
L
Zhang
Hongling
H
Yang
D000818:Animals; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005123:Eye / Q000528:radiation effects; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008027:Light; D009216:Myopia / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000528:radiation effects; D059467:Transcriptome; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis
D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases