Transcription Factors Pax6 and AP-2  Interact To Coordinate Corneal Epithelial Repair by Controlling Expression of Matrix Metalloproteinase Gelatinase B (original) (raw)

2003, Molecular and Cellular Biology

Pax6 is a paired box containing transcription factor that resides at the top of a genetic hierarchy controlling eye development. It continues to be expressed in tissues of the adult eye, but its role in this capacity is unclear. Pax6 is present in the adult corneal epithelium, and we showed that the amount of Pax6 is increased at the migrating front as the epithelium resurfaces the cornea after injury (J. M. Sivak, R. Mohan, W. B. Rinehart, P. X. Xu, R. L. Maas, and M. E. Fini, Dev. Biol. 222:41-54, 2000). We also showed that Pax6 controls activity of the transcriptional promoter for the matrix metalloproteinase, gelatinase B (gelB; MMP-9) in cell culture transfection studies. gelB expression is turned on at the migrating epithelial front in the cornea, and it coordinates and effects aspects of epithelial regeneration (R. Mohan, S. K. Chintala, J. C. Jung, W. V. Villar, F. McCabe, L. A. Russo, Y. Lee, B. E. McCarthy, K. R. Wollenberg, J. V. Jester, M. Wang, H. G. Welgus, J. M. Shipl...