Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 11, 2026
05:19
Modeling Cataract Surgery in Mice
Published on: December 1, 2023
Complement C5a Promotes Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Pterygium via C5aR Activation
Jiaxin Han1,2, Qianwen Gong1,2, He Wang3
1National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, People's Republic of China.
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science
|June 10, 2026
Summary
Complement component 5a (C5a) signaling drives pterygium development by promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition in conjunctival cells. Targeting C5a receptor (C5aR) may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for pterygium.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Immunology
- Proteomics
Background:
- Pterygium is a common ocular surface disease characterized by abnormal fibrovascular growth.
- The underlying molecular mechanisms of pterygium pathogenesis remain incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify regulatory proteins involved in pterygium pathogenesis.
- To investigate the biological roles of these candidate proteins in disease development.
Main Methods:
- Proteomic analysis (label-free/4D label-free) of pterygium and conjunctival tissues.
- Functional validation using primary conjunctival epithelial cells (PCECs) stimulated with C5a and C5a receptor antagonist PMX53.
- Assays included epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, cell migration, apoptosis, and VEGFA expression.
Main Results:
- Complement component 5 (C5) was upregulated in pterygium tissues and correlated positively with vessel density.
- C5a promoted EMT-like changes in PCECs, including decreased E-cadherin and increased vimentin and fibronectin.
- C5a enhanced cell migration, reduced apoptosis, and increased VEGFA expression, effects attenuated by PMX53.
Conclusions:
- C5a/C5aR signaling contributes to pterygium pathogenesis by inducing EMT in conjunctival epithelial cells.
- C5a receptor (C5aR) represents a potential therapeutic target for pterygium.
Related Concept Videos
01:17Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions
Integrins act both as extracellular input receivers and as intracellular processing activators. As their name suggests, integrins are entirely integrated into the membrane structure. Their hydrophobic membrane-spanning regions interact with the phospholipid bilayer's hydrophobic region. These membrane receptors provide extracellular attachment sites for effectors like hormones and growth factors. They activate intracellular response cascades when their effectors are bound and active.
Some...
Some...
01:22Microtubules in Signaling
The primary cilium, made up of microtubules, acts as antennae on the cell surfaces for relaying external stimuli into the cells. These fine hair-like structures are present, generally one per cell. These are non-motile cilia in a 9+0 microtubules arrangement, where the central pair of microtubules are absent. The primary cilia arise from the basal body embedded in the cell membrane. Intraflagellar transport (IFT) carries requisite proteins from the cytoplasm to the cilium because the primary...
01:16Cell Motility through Blebbing
Blebs are a type of membrane protrusion formed by the internal hydrostatic pressure of the cytoplasm. Blebs are observed in several cell types, including fibroblasts, immune cells, and single-celled organisms like the amoeba. The primary function of blebs is cell locomotion and apoptosis, but they are also found during necrosis and cell division. The life cycle of a bleb comprises an initiation phase followed by the expansion and retraction phases.
Blebbing Through the Matrix
In multicellular...
Blebbing Through the Matrix
In multicellular...
01:19Cell Migration
Cell migration is a process by which the cells move from one location to another, playing an essential role in embryological development, repair and regeneration, immune response, and metastasis. Cells migrate in response to chemical or mechanical signals generated by specific organs or tissues. The overall mechanism includes three steps - polarization, protrusion, and release. Polarization involves the formation of a distinct cell front and rear, which determines the direction of movement.
01:09Cell Migration
Cell migration, the process by which cells move from one location to another, is essential for the proper development and viability of organisms throughout their life. When cells are not able to migrate properly to their ordained locations, various disorders may occur. For example, disruption in cell migration causes chronic inflammatory diseases such as arthritis.
01:19Cadherins in Tissue Organization
The cadherins are a superfamily of cell adhesion molecules comprising over 180 variants, with specific tissues expressing a particular combination of cadherin types. Cadherins generally exhibit homophilic binding; i.e., cadherins on one cell bind to cadherins of the same or closely related type on another cell. Thus, cells of the same type have a specific affinity to bind to each other and sort themselves into clusters to form tissues.
Cell Sorting During Development
Cell sorting plays an...
Cell Sorting During Development
Cell sorting plays an...