Neuregulin-1 accelerates corneal epithelial wound healing

Abstract

Corneal epithelial cells (CECs) play an important role in the function of the cornea, and are maintained by corneal epithelial stem cells (CESCs). Recent studies have shown that neuronal growth factors affect the proliferation and migration of CESCs. Neuregulin-1 (NR-1) is a neuronal growth factor that is expressed in the early stages of brain development. The aim of this study was to determine whether NR-1 activates corneal wound healing. We observed that NR-1 activated both proliferation and migration of CECs. In addition, the colony-forming efficacy of CESCs was enhanced. In mice, NR-1 treatment improved corneal wound healing. Furthermore, the expression of markers of corneal epithelium maintenance (ΔNp63) and CESC proliferation (Bmi-1 and Abcg2) was increased. These effects were mediated by intracellular signalling pathways (Stat3, Erk1/2 and p38). Taken together, our results suggest that NR-1 accelerates the recovery of corneal wounds, and may represent a novel treatment for corneal damage.

Keywords:

• Neuregulin-1
• corneal cell
• proliferation
• cell migration
• wound healing

Acknowledgements

I thank all my research collaborators and the members of the Laboratory of Bio Pharmaceutical Processes department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology at Korea University for their help and technical support.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no potential conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by grants from Korea University and Biocoz Global Korea, with additional support from Korea University BK21 Plus Program (School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University).