CCN2/CTGF promotor activity in the developing and adult mouse eye

AbstractCCN2/CTGF is a matricellular protein that is known to enhance transforming growth factor- β signaling and to induce a myofibroblast-like phenotype in a variety of cell types. Here, we investigatedCcn2/Ctgf promotor activity during development and in the adult mouse eye, usingCTGFLacZ/+ mice in which the β-galactosidase reporter geneLacZ had been inserted into the open reading frame ofCcn2/Ctgf. Promotor activity was assessed by staining for β-galactosidase activity and by immunolabeling using antibodies against β-galactosidase. Co-immunostaining using antibodies against glutamine synthetase, glial fibrillary acidic protein, choline acetyltransferase, and CD31 was applied to identify specific cell types.Ccn2/Ctgf promotor activity was intense in neural crest-derived cells differentiating to corneal stroma and endothelium, and to the stroma of choroid, iris, ciliary body, and the trabecular meshwork during development. In the adult eye, a persistent and very strong promotor activity was present in the trabecular meshwork outflow pathways. In addition, endothelial cells of Schlemm ’s canal, and of retinal and choroidal vessels, retinal astrocytes, Müller glia, and starburst amacrine cells were stained. Very strong promoter activity was seen in the astrocytes of the glial lamina at the optic nerve head. We conclude that CCN2/CTGF signaling is involved in the processes that govern neural crest morphogenesis during ocular development. In the adult eye, CCN2/CTGF like...

Source: Cell and Tissue Research - January 29, 2021 Category: Cytology Source Type: research