title: Moesin expression in fibrosis in the mouse cornea after sterile mechanical trauma or infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the expression patterns of 3 important biochemical characteristics of fibrosis-moesin, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, and α-smooth muscle actin (SMA) in the mouse cornea with fibrosis induced by common etiologies-sterile mechanical injury and infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Corneas of 8-week-old C57BL6 mice were either wounded after an anterior keratectomy or were infected by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and the animals were killed on days 2 and 7, and on weeks 2 and 4 after the procedure. Western blot and immunofluorescence were used to analyze the expression of moesin and phospho-moesin, and the presence of myofibroblasts identified by the expression of α-SMA in the corneal stroma. The expression of TGF-β1 was analyzed by immunofluorescence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  By immunofluorescent analysis, TGF-β1, α-SMA, and phospho-moesin were not detected in the normal corneal stroma. However, after either treatment, TGF-β1 expression increased, along with phospho-moesin in the wounded corneal stroma until day 7, and decreased after week 2. No expression of TGF-β1 and phospho-moesin was found at postoperative week 4. Moesin expression increased until week 2. Myofibroblasts positive for α-SMA were detected on day 2 until week 4 and peaked at week 2. Western blot analysis confirmed the immunofluorescent data for moesin, phospho-moesin, and α-SMA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The similar expression pattern of moesin, phospho-moesin, TGF-β1, and α-SMA in the mouse cornea with fibrosis caused by sterile mechanical injury or infection indicated a role for moesin signaling in corneal fibrosis. Interference with the action of moesin may be a potential approach for intervention strategies to avert fibrosis after infection or mechanical injury.
authors: *Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore; and †SRP Neuroscience and Behavioral Disorders, Duke-NUS, Singapore, Singapore.
authors: Hong-Y
authors: HY
authors: Zhu
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: Ng
authors: Shuhaida M
authors: SM
authors: Salleh
authors: Thet T
authors: TT
authors: Aung
authors: Myint H
authors: MH
authors: Htoon
authors: Roger W
authors: RW
authors: Beuerman
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003315:Cornea / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D065306:Corneal Injuries / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000378:metabolism; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C558396:Acta2 protein, mouse; D000199:Actins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; C071058:moesin