Deciphering the molecular symphony: Unraveling endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition in corneal endothelial cells

In this study, we established an in vitro model to simulate endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) in corneal endothelial cells. Through RNA sequencing, we identified 452 upregulated and 163 downregulated genes, resulting in a total of 615 differentially expressed genes. Key pathways enriched by GO and KEGG analysis include extracellular matrix (ECM) regulation and the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Potential hub proteins such as THBS1, ITGA5, COL1A1, and SNAI1/2 were also identified, and their dynamic changes at different time points (0, 2, 12, 24 h) were monitored. Uncovering these key pathways and genes may deepen our understanding of the mechanisms underlying EndMT in corneal endothelial cells, providing valuable insights for optimizing in vitro cultivation strategies.PMID:38253308 | DOI:10.1016/j.exer.2024.109795

Source: Experimental Eye Research - January 22, 2024 Category: Opthalmology Authors: Zhaoxiang Lu Haimiao Lin Jinming Li Yun Feng Source Type: research