Gremlin mediates the TGF‑β‑induced induction of profibrogenic genes in human retinal pigment epithelial cells

Qin,Dong; Jin,Xuemin; Jiang,Yanrong

doi:10.3892/etm.2020.8463

Gremlin mediates the TGF‑β‑induced induction of profibrogenic genes in human retinal pigment epithelial cells

Authors:
- Dong Qin
- Xuemin Jin
- Yanrong Jiang
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Affiliations: Henan Eye Institute, Henan Provincial Eye Hospital, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, P.R. China, Department of Ophthalmology, People's Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100044, P.R. China
Published online on: January 21, 2020 https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2020.8463
Pages: 2353-2359
Copyright: © Qin et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

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.

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