School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, Shandong Province, China.
School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, Shandong Province, China; Institute of Stem Cell Regeneration Medicine, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China.
Exp Eye Res. 2024 Sep;246:110022. doi: 10.1016/j.exer.2024.110022. Epub 2024 Aug 6.
The corneal epithelium is located on the most anterior surface of the eyeball and protects against external stimuli. The development of the corneal epithelium and the maintenance of corneal homeostasis are essential for the maintenance of visual acuity. It has been discovered recently via the in-depth investigation of ocular surface illnesses that the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is necessary for the growth and stratification of corneal epithelial cells as well as the control of endothelial cell stability. In addition, the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is directly linked to the development of common corneal illnesses such as keratoconus, fungal keratitis, and corneal neovascularization. This review mainly summarizes the role of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in the development, homeostasis, and pathobiology of cornea, hoping to provide new insights into the study of corneal epithelium and the treatment of related diseases.
角膜上皮位于眼球最前面，可抵御外界刺激。角膜上皮的发育和角膜稳态的维持对于维持视力至关重要。最近通过对眼表疾病的深入研究发现，Wnt/β-catenin 信号通路对于角膜上皮细胞的生长和分层以及内皮细胞稳定性的控制是必需的。此外，Wnt/β-catenin 信号通路与常见的角膜疾病如圆锥角膜、真菌性角膜炎和角膜新生血管的发展直接相关。本综述主要总结了 Wnt/β-catenin 信号通路在角膜发育、稳态和病理生物学中的作用，希望为角膜上皮的研究和相关疾病的治疗提供新的思路。
