Conjunctival goblet cells are the major cell type that synthesize and secrete mucins for the maintenance of ocular surface integrity. Lack of mucins in the tear film due to goblet cells abnormality causes dry eye syndrome (DES) and affects millions of people's vision and life. The lack of knowledge regarding the regulatory mechanisms by which conjunctival epithelial cells differentiate to form goblet cells hampers the development of treatment regimens for DES. We found that inhibition of Notch via conditional expression of a dominant negative transcriptional coactivator mastermind-like 1 (dnMAML1) in the ocular surface epithelia (OSdnMAML1) suppressed goblet cell differentiation in mouse model. Compared to the wild-type mouse (OSWt), the ocular surface of the OSdnMAML1 exhibited conjunctival epithelial hyperplasia, aberrant desquamation, and impaired goblet cell formation. Moreover, OSdnMAML1 inhibited Krppel-like transcriptional factor 4 and 5 genes (Klf4 and Klf5) expression and Muc5/ac synthesis. In contrast, conjunctival epithelium was expanded and differentiated into goblet cells in entire eyelid stroma of the TGFRII conditional knockout (cKO) mice. The expanded TGFRIIcKO conjunctival epithelium strongly expressed SAM-pointed domain containing ETS transcription factor (SPDEF), which plays a critical role in goblet cell differentiation in multiple organs. We hypothesize that intrinsic canonical Notch and TGF signaling pathways and their interaction(s) play pivotal roles in conjunctival goblet cell differentiation. We propose three aims to test this hypothesis.
Aim 1 : To elucidate that Jagged1/Notch1 N1-ICD/Rbp-j?MAML1 Klf4/5 Muc5/ac axis is critical for the conjunctival goblet cell differentiation.
Aim 2 : To elucidate that TGFRII Smads SPDEF Muc5/ac axis has a role in goblet cell differentiation.
Aim 3 : To delineate how Notch and TGF pathways interact to come up with a physiological output for balanced goblet cell differentiation.

Public Health Relevance

The goal of the proposed research entitled 'Ocular Surface in Health and Disease' is to understand the cellular signaling pathway(s) network in controlling normal ocular surface morphogenesis and the pathogenesis of Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS or dry eye). Specifically, we focus on two important cellular signaling pathways: 1) Notch signaling activates Klf4/5 transcription factor which in turn regulates goblet cell differentiation and mucin synthesis; 2) TGF signaling in regulating goblet cell differentiation by negative regulation of transcription factor Spdef in conjunctival epithelium. Moreover, we also found that inhibition of Notch dampened Klf4/5 expression and diminished Spdef and Muc5/ac synthesis in the conjunctival epithelium, suggesting that there is interaction between Notch and TGF signaling pathways to control goblet cell differentiation in conjunctival epithelium. Based on these data, we set out to investigate in-depth molecular mechanisms by which Notch and TGF pathways cross-talk to come up with a physiological output for balanced goblet cell differentiation. Genetic and/or epigenetic alteration of Notch and TGF signaling network can lead to severe KCS in the transgenic mouse model as well as in human. Therefore, fine-tune Notch activation to control Klf4/5 expression and/or TGF to control Spdef can be a potential strategy to treat KCS with mucins deficient dry eye.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01EY023680-02
Application #
9135400
Study Section
Biology of the Visual System Study Section (BVS)
Program Officer
Mckie, George Ann
Project Start
2015-09-01
Project End
2018-08-31
Budget Start
2016-09-01
Budget End
2017-08-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2016
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Indiana University Bloomington
Department
Type
Schools of Optometry/Opht Tech
DUNS #
006046700
City
Bloomington
State
IN
Country
United States
Zip Code
47401
Zhang, Lingling; Anderson, Matthew C; Liu, Chia-Yang (2017) The role of corneal stroma: A potential nutritional source for the cornea. J Nat Sci 3:
Zhang, Yujin; Wang, Yen-Chiao; Yuka, Okada et al. (2016) Mouse Corneal Stroma Fibroblast Primary Cell Culture. Bio Protoc 6:
Liu, Chia-Yang (2015) Wakayama symposium: role of canonical Notch signaling in conjucntival goblet cell differentiation and dry eye syndrome. BMC Ophthalmol 15 Suppl 1:152
Zhang, Yujin; Yeh, Lung-Kun; Zhang, Suohui et al. (2015) Wnt/?-catenin signaling modulates corneal epithelium stratification via inhibition of Bmp4 during mouse development. Development 142:3383-93
Mizoguchi, Shin; Suzuki, Kentaro; Zhang, Jianhua et al. (2015) Disruption of eyelid and cornea morphogenesis by epithelial ?-catenin gain-of-function. Mol Vis 21:793-803
Coulson-Thomas, Vivien Jane; Chang, Shao-Hsuan; Yeh, Lung-Kun et al. (2015) Loss of corneal epithelial heparan sulfate leads to corneal degeneration and impaired wound healing. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 56:3004-14
McCauley, Heather A; Liu, Chia-Yang; Attia, Aria C et al. (2014) TGF? signaling inhibits goblet cell differentiation via SPDEF in conjunctival epithelium. Development 141:4628-39