Agrin Promotes Limbal Stem Cell Proliferation and Corneal Wound Healing Through Hippo-Yap Signaling Pathway

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect and mechanism of Agrin on limbal stem cell proliferation and corneal wound healing. METHODS: Limbal stem cells were isolated and treated with different concentrations of Agrin. CCK-8 and cell proliferation markers (Ki67 and pH3) were detected to evaluate cell numbers or proliferative potential of limbal stem cells. The corneal epithelium wound model was induced by debridement of central corneal epithelial, and the effects of Agrin on limbal stem cell proliferation and corneal epithelial wound healing rate were determined. RESULTS: Agrin promoted the proliferation of cultured limbal stem cells in vitro and increased the expression level of p63α rather than keratin 12. Furthermore, Agrin accelerated the wound healing rate of corneal epithelium through activating limbal stem cell proliferation in vivo. In terms of mechanism, Agrin could facilitate the dephosphorylation of Yap1, which contributed to the nuclear translocation of Yap1 and expression of Cyclin D1, and subsequently promoted proliferation of limbal stem cells. CONCLUSIONS: Agrin promotes the proliferation of limbal stem cells and accelerates the healing rate of corneal wound through Hippo-Yap signaling pathway.