BMP2 inhibits myopia progression by upregulating PPARγ in guinea pigs

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 28, 2026

Cochlear Implantation in the Guinea Pig
09:56

Cochlear Implantation in the Guinea Pig

Published on: June 15, 2018

11.8K

Zhaoying Cai1, Zhiyang Wang2, Ying Zhu1

  • 1Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Tianjin, China.

Experimental Eye Research
|January 26, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) may be a new treatment for myopia. This study found BMP2 levels decrease in myopia and that BMP2 injections helped reduce myopia progression in animal models.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Regenerative Medicine

Background:

  • Myopia is a global epidemic with limited treatment options.
  • Bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) plays a role in eye development, but its function in myopia is unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of BMP2 in myopia development.
  • To explore BMP2 as a potential therapeutic agent for myopia.

Main Methods:

  • Assessed BMP2 levels in guinea pigs with form-deprivation myopia (FDM).
  • Administered exogenous BMP2 via subconjunctival injections.
  • Evaluated effects on choroidal blood perfusion (ChBP), myopia progression, scleral Collagen type I alpha 1 expression, and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) levels.
  • Utilized an in vitro hypoxia model with human scleral fibroblasts to examine the role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ).

Main Results:

  • Scleral BMP2 levels were significantly decreased in FDM guinea pigs.
  • BMP2 injections partially prevented myopia development and improved ChBP.
  • BMP2 counteracted myopia-induced decreases in Collagen type I alpha 1 and increases in HIF-1α.
  • Inhibition of PPARγ reversed BMP2's effects on extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling in vitro.

Conclusions:

  • BMP2 inhibits myopia development and regulates scleral ECM remodeling.
  • BMP2 acts, in part, by enhancing PPARγ signaling.
  • BMP2 is a promising, accessible candidate for myopia management.
Keywords:
Bone morphogenetic protein 2Collagen type I alpha 1 synthesisMyopiaScleral hypoxia

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