Scleral remodeling in early adulthood: the role of FGF-2

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 13; no. 1; pp. 20779 - 9
• Main Authors: Qin, Yingyan, Liu, Taixiang, Zhang, Zhaotian, Xing, Shuwen, Gong, Li, Ni, Yao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 27.11.2023; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 631/136/2128; 631/136/7; 631/80/86/2368; 631/80/86/820; Age; Animals; Cell Differentiation - physiology; Cell growth; Cell Proliferation; Collagen; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; Fibroblast growth factor receptor 1; Fibroblast growth factor receptor 2; Fibroblast growth factor receptor 4; Fibroblast growth factor receptors; Fibroblast growth factors; Fibroblasts; Gelatinase A; Gene expression; Guinea Pigs; Humanities and Social Sciences; Matrix metalloproteinase; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 - genetics; Maturation; Metalloproteinase; multidisciplinary; Myopia; Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor - metabolism; Science; Science (multidisciplinary)
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-48264-5

Emmetropization, a natural process of ocular elongation, is closely associated with scleral remodeling. The Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) was reported involved in scleral remodeling in myopia models. Herein, we aimed to investigate the role of scleral fibroblast-to-myofibroblast differentiation and FGF-2 in scleral remodeling during maturation. Our findings revealed that the posterior scleral fibroblasts (SFs) from mature guinea pigs exhibit increased stiffness compared to those from young guinea pigs. Moreover, mature SFs displayed decreased cell proliferation but increased levels of α-SMA, matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2), and collagen 1, when compared to young SFs. Additionally, the mRNA expression of scleral Fgf-2 , Fgf receptor 1 (Fgfr1) , Fgfr2 , Fgfr3 , and Fgfr4 was increased in mature SFs. Notably, exogenous FGF-2 showed increased cell proliferation and led to decreased expression of α-SMA, MMP2, and collagen 1 in mature SFs. Overall, our findings highlight the influence of maturation on SFs from posterior scleral shells, resulting in increased stiffness and the manifestation of fibroblast-to-myofibroblast differentiation during development. Exogenous FGF-2 increased cell proliferation and reversed the age-related fibroblast-to-myofibroblast differentiation, suggesting a potential role of FGF-2 in regulating scleral remodeling.