Expression of Wntβ-Catenin Signaling Pathway and Its Regulatory Role in Type I Collagen with TGF-β1 in Scleral Fibroblasts from an Experimentally Induced Myopia Guinea Pig Model

Abstract EN

Background.

To investigate Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway expression and its regulation of type I collagen by TGF-β1 in scleral fibroblasts from form-deprivation myopia (FDM) guinea pig model.

Methods.

Wnt isoforms were examined using genome microarrays.

Scleral fibroblasts from FDM group and self-control (SC) group were cultured.

Wnt isoforms, β-catenin, TGF-β1, and type I collagen expression levels were examined in the two groups with or without DKK-1 or TGF-β1 neutralizing antibody.

Results.

For genome microarrays, the expression of Wnt3 in FDM group was significantly greater as confirmed in retinal and scleral tissue.

The expression of Wnt3 and β-catenin significantly increased in FDM group and decreased significantly with DKK-1.

TGF-β1 expression level decreased significantly in FDM group and increased significantly with DKK-1.

Along with morphological misalignment inside and outside cells, the amount of type I collagen decreased in FDM group.

Furthermore, type I collagen increased and became regular in DKK-1 intervention group, whereas it decreased and rearranged more disorder in TGF-β1 neutralizing antibody intervention group.

Conclusions.

The activation of Wnt3/β-catenin signaling pathway was demonstrated in primary scleral fibroblasts in FDM.

This pathway further reduced the expression of type I collagen by TGF-β1, which ultimately played a role in scleral remodeling during myopia development.