Browsing by Subject "wound healing"
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Item Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPARalpha) regulates wound healing and mitochondrial metabolism in the cornea(National Academy of Science, 2023-03-22) Liang, Wentao; Huang, Li; Whelchel, Amy E.; Yuan, Tian; Ma, Xiang; Cheng, Rui; Takahashi, Yusuke; Karamichos, Dimitrios; Ma, Jian-XingDiabetes can result in impaired corneal wound healing. Mitochondrial dysfunction plays an important role in diabetic complications. However, the regulation of mitochondria function in the diabetic cornea and its impacts on wound healing remain elusive. The present study aimed to explore the molecular basis for the disturbed mitochondrial metabolism and subsequent wound healing impairment in the diabetic cornea. Seahorse analysis showed that mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation is a major source of ATP production in human corneal epithelial cells. Live corneal biopsy punches from type 1 and type 2 diabetic mouse models showed impaired mitochondrial functions, correlating with impaired corneal wound healing, compared to nondiabetic controls. To approach the molecular basis for the impaired mitochondrial function, we found that Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-alpha (PPARalpha) expression was downregulated in diabetic human corneas. Even without diabetes, global PPARalpha knockout mice and corneal epithelium-specific PPARalpha conditional knockout mice showed disturbed mitochondrial function and delayed wound healing in the cornea, similar to that in diabetic corneas. In contrast, fenofibrate, a PPARalpha agonist, ameliorated mitochondrial dysfunction and enhanced wound healing in the corneas of diabetic mice. Similarly, corneal epithelium-specific PPARalpha transgenic overexpression improved mitochondrial function and enhanced wound healing in the cornea. Furthermore, PPARalpha agonist ameliorated the mitochondrial dysfunction in primary human corneal epithelial cells exposed to diabetic stressors, which was impeded by siRNA knockdown of PPARalpha, suggesting a PPARalpha-dependent mechanism. These findings suggest that downregulation of PPARalpha plays an important role in the impaired mitochondrial function in the corneal epithelium and delayed corneal wound healing in diabetes.Item Quercetin and Related Analogs as Therapeutics to Promote Tissue Repair(MDPI, 2023-10-28) McKay, Tina B.; Emmitte, Kyle A.; German, Carrie; Karamichos, DimitriosQuercetin is a polyphenol of the flavonoid class of secondary metabolites that is widely distributed in the plant kingdom. Quercetin has been found to exhibit potent bioactivity in the areas of wound healing, neuroprotection, and anti-aging research. Naturally found in highly glycosylated forms, aglycone quercetin has low solubility in aqueous environments, which has heavily limited its clinical applications. To improve the stability and bioavailability of quercetin, efforts have been made to chemically modify quercetin and related flavonoids so as to improve aqueous solubility while retaining bioactivity. In this review, we provide an updated overview of the biological properties of quercetin and proposed mechanisms of actions in the context of wound healing and aging. We also provide a description of recent developments in synthetic approaches to improve the solubility and stability of quercetin and related analogs for therapeutic applications. Further research in these areas is expected to enable translational applications to improve ocular wound healing and tissue repair.Item Salivary Exosomes in Health and Disease: Future Prospects in the Eye(MDPI, 2023-04-14) Liu, Angela; Hefley, Brenna; Escandon, Paulina; Nicholas, Sarah E.; Karamichos, DimitriosExosomes are a group of vesicles that package and transport DNA, RNA, proteins, and lipids to recipient cells. They can be derived from blood, saliva, urine, and/or other biological tissues. Their impact on several diseases, such as neurodegenerative, autoimmune, and ocular diseases, have been reported, but not fully unraveled. The exosomes that are derived from saliva are less studied, but offer significant advantages over exosomes from other sources, due to their accessibility and ease of collection. Thus, their role in the pathophysiology of diseases is largely unknown. In the context of ocular diseases, salivary exosomes have been under-utilized, thus creating an enormous gap in the literature. The current review discusses the state of exosomes research on systemic and ocular diseases and highlights the role and potential of salivary exosomes as future ocular therapeutic vehicles.Item Sex Hormones, Growth Hormone, and the Cornea(MDPI, 2022-01-11) McKay, Tina B.; Priyadarsini, Shrestha; Karamichos, DimitriosThe growth and maintenance of nearly every tissue in the body is influenced by systemic hormones during embryonic development through puberty and into adulthood. Of the ~130 different hormones expressed in the human body, steroid hormones and peptide hormones are highly abundant in circulation and are known to regulate anabolic processes and wound healing in a tissue-dependent manner. Of interest, differential levels of sex hormones have been associated with ocular pathologies, including dry eye disease and keratoconus. In this review, we discuss key studies that have revealed a role for androgens and estrogens in the cornea with focus on ocular surface homeostasis, wound healing, and stromal thickness. We also review studies of human growth hormone and insulin growth factor-1 in influencing ocular growth and epithelial regeneration. While it is unclear if endogenous hormones contribute to differential corneal wound healing in common animal models, the abundance of evidence suggests that systemic hormone levels, as a function of age, should be considered as an experimental variable in studies of corneal health and disease.