The roles of tenascin-C for corneal epithelial stem cell niche

眼干细胞缺乏性疾病的免疫组织学分析显示结膜下有大量Tenascin-C （TNC）沉积。TNC报告基因分析显示TNC基因对创面愈合和机械应力有诱导作用。在纤维连接蛋白（FN）包被培养皿中加入TNC可引起细胞形状的改变。TNC基因敲除小鼠的分析显示，野生型角膜基底膜侧的β -catenin水平较高，而TNC基因敲除小鼠的β -catenin则呈弥漫性表达。TNC分子可能通过控制β -连环蛋白信号参与角膜上皮干细胞稳态的形成。

Immunohistological analysis of ocular stem cell deficiency diseases revealed massive subconjunctival Tenascin-C (TNC) deposition. TNC reporter gene analysis showed TNC gene induction upon wound healing and mechanical stress. The addition of TNC into the fibronectin (FN) coated dishes induced the change of cell shapes. The TNC knockout mouse analysis showed higher level of beta-catenin in the wild type corneal epithelium in the basal membrane side whereas diffuse beta-catenin expression was observed in TNC knockout mouse. The TNC molecule may contribute to the formation of corneal epithelial stem cell homeostasis through controlling beta-catenin signals.