Sestrin2 inhibits YAP activation and negatively regulates corneal epithelial cell proliferation

Corneal wound healing is essential for the maintenance of corneal integrity and transparency and involves a series of physiological processes that depend on the proliferation of epithelial cells. However, the molecular mechanisms that control corneal epithelial cell proliferation are poorly understood. Here, we show that Sestrin2, a stress-inducible protein, is downregulated in the corneal epithelium during wound healing and that the proliferation of epithelial basal cells is enhanced in Sestrin2-deficient mice. We also show that YAP, a major downstream effector of the Hippo signaling pathway, regulates cell proliferation during corneal epithelial wound repair and that Sestrin2 suppresses its activity. Moreover, increased levels of reactive oxygen species in the Sestrin2-deficient corneal epithelium promote the nuclear localization and dephosphorylation of YAP, activating it to enhance the proliferation of corneal epithelial cells. These results reveal that Sestrin2 is a negative regulator of YAP, which regulates the proliferative capacity of basal epithelial cells, and may serve as a potential therapeutic target for corneal epithelial damage.