Fol. Biol. 2022, 68, 72-77

https://doi.org/10.14712/fb2022068020072

TRPM7 Elicits Proliferation and Differentiation of Human Lens Epithelial Cells through the TGF-β/Smad Pathways

G. Yang, Y. Wu, Shaohua Tang

Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Beijing, China

Received November 2021
Accepted May 2022

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a crucial role in the development of cataract. This study aimed to explore the effects of TRPM7 on the proliferation and differentiation of human lens epithelial cells. TRPM7 was over-expressed in LECs treated with TGF-β2. Down-regulation of TRPM7 attenuated the increase in cell viability and cell proliferation induced by TGF-β2. The LEC migration induced by TGF-β2 was also repressed by down-regulation of TRPM7. Epithelial-specific protein E-cadherin was up-regulated through knock-down of TRPM7. EMT-specific proteins, α-SMA, fibronectin and vimentin, were down-regulated through knockdown of TRPM7. Moreover, phosphorylation of Smad2 and Smad3 was also prevented by inhibition of TRPM7. Therefore, TRPM7 elicited LEC proliferation and EMT through enhancing activation of the TGF-β/Smad pathways, implying a new therapeutic target for cataract.

Funding

This study was supported by Beijing JST Research Funding (Grant No. QN-202109).

References

15 live references