title: Meibocyte differentiation and renewal: Insights into novel mechanisms of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).
abstract: This paper reviews our current understanding of age-related meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) and the role of the nuclear receptor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), in the regulation of meibomian gland function, meibocyte differentiation and lipid synthesis. The studies suggest that PPARγ is a master regulator of meibocyte differentiation and function, whose expression and nuclear signaling coupled with meibocyte renewal is altered during aging, potentially leading to atrophy of the meibomian gland as seen in clinical MGD. Study of meibomian gland stem cells also suggest that there is a limited number of precursor meibocytes that provide progeny to the acini, that may be susceptible to exhaustion as occurs during aging and other environmental factors. Further study of pathways regulating PPARγ expression and function as well as meibocyte stem cell maintenance may provide clues to establishing cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying MGD and the development of novel therapeutic strategies to treating this disease.
authors.affiliation: Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States; Department of Ophthalmology, Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University, Korea.
authors.forename: Ho Sik
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States.
authors.forename: Geraint J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Parfitt
authors.affiliation: Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States.
authors.forename: Donald J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States. Electronic address: JJester@uci.edu.
authors.forename: James V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Jester
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D000066673:Cell Self Renewal / Q000502:physiology; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008055:Lipids / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008537:Meibomian Glands / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D047495:PPAR gamma
keywords: Dry eye; Meibocyte; Meibomian gland; Ocular surface; PPARγ; Stem cell