Open AccessGremlin mediates the TGF‑β‑induced induction of profibrogenic genes in human retinal pigment epithelial cells
Author(s) -
Qian Dong,
Xuemin Jin,
Yanrong Jiang
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
experimental and therapeutic medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1792-1015
pISSN - 1792-0981
DOI - 10.3892/etm.2020.8463
Subject(s) - fibronectin , proliferative vitreoretinopathy , microbiology and biotechnology , extracellular matrix , transforming growth factor , epithelial–mesenchymal transition , retinal pigment epithelium , biology , cell growth , type i collagen , fibroblast , wound healing , cell cycle , cell , retinal , cell culture , downregulation and upregulation , immunology , endocrinology , retinal detachment , gene , genetics , biochemistry
Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) is characterised by the contraction and growth of fibrotic membranes on the retina and within the vitreous body. Retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, a major cellular component of the fibrotic membrane, is one of the cell types that have been previously reported to associate with PVR pathogenesis. During PVR, RPE cells undergo increased cell proliferation, migration and the secretion of extracellular matrix molecules, such as fibronectin and type I collagen. A variety of cytokines and growth factors are involved in the formation of the fibrotic membrane. Although gremlin has been reported to serve an important role in the regulation of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in PVR, the relationship between gremlin and the expression of profibrogenic factors in human RPE cells remains unclear. In the present study, gremlin promoted RPE cell proliferation and the expression of type I collagen and fibronectin. In addition, knocking down gremlin expression by siRNA significantly suppressed the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1- and TGF-β2-induced expression of type I collagen and fibronectin in RPE cells. These findings suggest that gremlin may serve an important role in the development of PVR.