The Sonic Hedgehog Signaling Pathway Induces Myopic Development by Activating Matrix Metalloproteinase

• Published in: PloS one 2014-05, Vol.9 (5)
• Main Authors: Chen, Minjie, Qian, Yishan, Dai, Jinhui, Chu, Renyuan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0096952

To investigate whether the Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling induces myopic development by increasing the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 in guinea pigs. A translucent diffuser was glued onto the right eye to induce form-deprivation myopia (FDM) in 10 guinea pigs. Four guinea pigs were served as a control group. The other 100 guinea pigs were subdivided into 5 groups (20 per group) and received a 10 [micro]l intravitreal injection every 2 days for 4 times. Two groups were injected with 20 or 50 [micro]g/ml Shh amino-terminal peptide (Shh-N) into the right eye and 0.1% bovine serum albumin into the other. FDM was induced in the right eyes of the three cyclopamine-treated groups and both eyes were injected with 50, 100, or 200 [micro]g/ml cyclopamine. Retinoscopic refraction and eye dimensions were assessed on Day 14 of treatment. MMP-2 protein expression was determined in both scleras by western blotting. Both concentrations of Shh-N stimulated myopic development and axial growth as compared with control eyes. Myopia and axial elongation were significantly greater in the 50 [micro]g/ml than in the 20 [micro]g/ml Shh-N group (P