Age-Related Differences in the Mouse Corneal Epithelial Transcriptome and Their Impact on Corneal Wound Healing

Authors

Anmar Abu-Romman, Ocular Surface Center, Cullen Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States.
Kaitlin K. Scholand, Ocular Surface Center, Cullen Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States.
Gowthaman Govindarajan, Ocular Surface Center, Cullen Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States.
Zhiyuan Yu, Ocular Surface Center, Cullen Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States.
Sonali Pal-Ghosh, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, United States.
Mary A. Stepp, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, United States.
Cintia S. de Paiva, Ocular Surface Center, Cullen Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

5-1-2024

Journal

Investigative ophthalmology & visual science

Volume

65

Issue

5

DOI

10.1167/iovs.65.5.21

Abstract

PURPOSE: Aging is a risk factor for dry eye. We sought to identify changes in the aged mouse corneal epithelial transcriptome and determine how age affects corneal sensitivity, re-epithelialization, and barrier reformation after corneal debridement. METHODS: Corneal epithelium of female C57BL/6J (B6) mice of different ages (2, 12, 18, and 24 months) was collected, RNA extracted, and bulk RNA sequencing performed. Cornea sensitivity was measured with an esthesiometer in 2- to 3-month-old, 12- to 13-month-old, 18- to 19-month-old, and 22- to 25-month-old female and male mice. The 2-month-old and 18-month-old female and male mice underwent unilateral corneal debridement using a blunt blade. Wound size and fluorescein staining were visualized and photographed at different time points, and a re-epithelialization rate curve was calculated. RESULTS: There were 157 differentially expressed genes in aged mice compared with young mice. Several pathways downregulated with age control cell migration, proteoglycan synthesis, and collagen trimerization, assembly, biosynthesis, and degradation. Male mice had decreased corneal sensitivity compared with female mice at 12 and 24 months of age. Aged mice, irrespective of sex, had delayed corneal re-epithelialization in the first 48 hours and worse corneal fluorescein staining intensity at day 14 than young mice. CONCLUSIONS: Aged corneal epithelium has an altered transcriptome. Aged mice regardless of sex heal more slowly and displayed more signs of corneal epithelial defects after wounding than young mice. These results indicate that aging significantly alters the corneal epithelium and its ability to coordinate healing.

APA Citation

Abu-Romman, Anmar; Scholand, Kaitlin K.; Govindarajan, Gowthaman; Yu, Zhiyuan; Pal-Ghosh, Sonali; Stepp, Mary A.; and de Paiva, Cintia S., "Age-Related Differences in the Mouse Corneal Epithelial Transcriptome and Their Impact on Corneal Wound Healing" (2024). GW Authored Works. Paper 4988.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/4988

Department

Anatomy and Regenerative Biology