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Disruption of eyelid and cornea morphogenesis by epithelial β-catenin gain-of-function

Shin Mizoguchi1, Kentaro Suzuki2, Jianhua Zhang3

  • 1Department of Ophthalmology, Wakayama Medical University School of Medicine, Wakayama, Japan.

Molecular Vision
|August 19, 2015
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Altering epithelial beta-catenin in mice disrupts eyelid and cornea development, causing abnormal cell growth and differentiation during embryogenesis.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental biology
  • Molecular biology
  • Ophthalmology

Background:

  • Beta-catenin signaling is crucial for embryonic development.
  • Aberrant beta-catenin activity can lead to developmental abnormalities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of epithelial beta-catenin gain-of-function (gof) on eyelid and cornea development during mouse embryogenesis.

Main Methods:

  • Generated compound mutant mice with epidermal and ocular surface epithelium beta-catenin gof using Krt5-Cre and Ctnnb1(fE3/WT) mice.
  • Examined wild-type and mutant embryos via histology, immunohistochemistry, and ultrastructural analysis.

Main Results:

  • Epithelial beta-catenin gof severely impaired eyelid morphogenesis.
  • Mutant corneas showed disrupted keratocyte differentiation, increased proliferation, reduced collagen I, and abnormal epithelial differentiation.
  • Absence of the epithelial basement membrane was observed in mutant corneas.

Conclusions:

  • Gain-of-function beta-catenin in basal epithelial cells disrupts eyelid and cornea development.
  • Perturbed cell proliferation and differentiation in epithelium and mesenchyme underlie these developmental defects.

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