2. Academic Validation
  3. Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) promotes survival and contraction of myoepithelial cells in lacrimal gland

Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) promotes survival and contraction of myoepithelial cells in lacrimal gland

  • Exp Eye Res. 2025 Feb 6:253:110269. doi: 10.1016/j.exer.2025.110269.
Yilan Yin 1,  Colin James Barnstable 2,  Xiaomin Zhang 1,  Xiaorong Li 1,  Shaozhen Zhao 3,  Joyce Tombran-Tink 4
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Tianjin, 300384, China.
  • 2 Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Tianjin, 300384, China; Department of Neural and Behavioral Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, 17033-0850, USA; Skyran Biologics Inc., Harrisburg, PA, 17112, USA.
  • 3 Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Tianjin, 300384, China. Electronic address: zhaosz1997@sina.com.
  • 4 Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Tianjin, 300384, China; Skyran Biologics Inc., Harrisburg, PA, 17112, USA. Electronic address: jttink@aol.com.
PMID: 39922524 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2025.110269
Abstract

PEDF is critical for general health of the ocular surface. In order to study mechanisms of PEDF's action in lacrimal gland (LG) secretion, these visual structures were studied in a PEDF deficient (Pedf-/-) mouse model using biochemical, histochemical, and morphometric analyses. In Pedf-/- Animals there were several ocular surface and LG disturbances not seen in controls. Notably, changes in body and LG weight, corneal sensitivity, tear film, ocular surface damage, and size of acini comprising the LG were evident. Survival of myoepithelial cells (MECs) surrounding the acini showed a PEDF survival dependence as there were significant reduction in MEC-specific P63 cells and Bcl2 expression levels, and increased TUNEL positive cells in PEDF deficient mice. Expression levels of the major contractile MEC proteins, α-SMA, calponin, and keratin 14, were also reduced with PEDF gene deletion and MECs contraction apparatus impaired, since oxytocin significantly reduced acinar area in controls but had no effect in PEDF deficient LGs, although the Oxytocin Receptor (OXTR) was expressed in both PEDF genotypes. These findings suggest that PEDF is essential to MECs survival and contractile function, and tear homeostasis on the ocular surface. Treatment with PEDF is likely to alleviate ocular-related conditions in diseases associated with dry eye as well as promote healthy MEC cell function in Other secretory glands of the body.

Keywords

Actin assembly; Calponin; Cell death; Contractile proteins; Corneal injury; Corneal sensitivity; Keratin 14; Lacrimal gland; Myoepithelial cells; Ocular surface; Pedf(−/−); Tear secretion; α-SMA.

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