Open Access

Modulation of the ERK1/2‑MMP‑2 pathway in the sclera of guinea pigs following induction of myopia by flickering light

  • Authors:
    • Man She
    • Bing Li
    • Tao Li
    • Qianqian Hu
    • Xiaodong Zhou
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: February 19, 2021     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2021.9802
  • Article Number: 371
  • Copyright: © She et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

It has been shown that flickering light can affect the development of eyeballs. However, the exact mechanism remains unclear. The ERK1/2‑MMP‑2 pathway is a classic pathway involved in the modulation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in cancer tissues. However, to the best of our knowledge, the role of this pathway in modulating the scleral ECM in myopia has not been previously examined. The present study aimed to determine the effects of the ERK1/2‑MMP‑2 pathway on the formation of flickering light‑induced myopia (FLM). Guinea pigs were raised under illumination at a flash rate of 0.5 Hz for 6 weeks to induce FLM. Peribulbar injections of dimethylsulfoxide or PD98059 (an inhibitor of phospho‑ERK1/2) were administered starting at the third week of FLM modeling. Refraction was measured prior to and following treatments. The thickness of the posterior sclera (PS) was measured under a light microscope following H&E staining. The mRNA levels of MMP‑2 were detected by the reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR assay. The expression levels of MMP‑2 and ERK1/2 were assayed by western blot and immunohistochemical analyses. Following 6 weeks of treatment, the refraction of the FLM group became more myopic compared with that of the control group, while PD98059 treatment inhibited the changes noted in the refraction. A marked reduction in the thickness of PS was observed in the FLM group, while PD98059 inhibited the remodeling of PS. In addition, the expression levels of MMP‑2 and protein levels of phospho‑ERK1/2 were increased in the FLM group, while PD98059 significantly inhibited MMP‑2 mRNA and protein levels. These results indicated that ERK1/2‑MMP‑2 may be involved in the formation of FLM in guinea pigs by regulating the remodeling of PS.
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April-2021
Volume 21 Issue 4

Print ISSN: 1792-0981
Online ISSN:1792-1015

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Spandidos Publications style
She M, Li B, Li T, Hu Q and Zhou X: Modulation of the ERK1/2‑MMP‑2 pathway in the sclera of guinea pigs following induction of myopia by flickering light. Exp Ther Med 21: 371, 2021
APA
She, M., Li, B., Li, T., Hu, Q., & Zhou, X. (2021). Modulation of the ERK1/2‑MMP‑2 pathway in the sclera of guinea pigs following induction of myopia by flickering light. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 21, 371. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2021.9802
MLA
She, M., Li, B., Li, T., Hu, Q., Zhou, X."Modulation of the ERK1/2‑MMP‑2 pathway in the sclera of guinea pigs following induction of myopia by flickering light". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 21.4 (2021): 371.
Chicago
She, M., Li, B., Li, T., Hu, Q., Zhou, X."Modulation of the ERK1/2‑MMP‑2 pathway in the sclera of guinea pigs following induction of myopia by flickering light". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 21, no. 4 (2021): 371. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2021.9802