National Cheng Kung University Medical College, Tainan
Country
Taiwan
Year
2015
Journal
PLOS One
Abstract
Purpose
To determine the role of thrombomodulin (TM) in corneal epithelial wound healing, and to investigate
whether recombinant TM epidermal growth factor-like domain plus serine/threonine-
rich domain (rTMD23) has therapeutic potential in corneal epithelial wound healing.
Methods
TM localization and expression in the murine cornea were examined by immunofluorescence
staining. TM expression after injury was also studied. The effect of rTMD23 on corneal
wound healing was evaluated by in vitro and in vivo assays.
Results
TM was expressed in the cornea in normal adult mice. TM expression increased in the early
phase of wound healing and decreased after wound recovery. In the in vitro study, plateletderived
growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) induced TM expression in murine corneal epithelial
cells by mediating E26 transformation-specific sequence-1 (Ets-1) via the mammalian target
of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway. The administration of rTMD23 increased the
rate of corneal epithelial wound healing.
Conclusions
TM expression in corneal epithelium was modulated during the corneal wound healing process,
and may be regulated by PDGF-BB. In addition, rTMD23 has therapeutic potential in
corneal injury.