YAP/TAZ Mediate TGFβ2-Induced Schlemm's Canal Cell Dysfunction.
PURPOSE: Elevated transforming growth factor beta2 (TGFβ2) levels in the aqueous humor have been linked to glaucomatous outflow tissue dysfunction. Potential mediators of dysfunction are the transcriptional coactivators, Yes-associated protein (YAP) and transcriptional coactivator with PDZ binding motif (TAZ). However, the molecular underpinnings of YAP/TAZ modulation in Schlemm's canal (SC) cells under glaucomatous conditions are not well understood. Here, we investigate how TGFβ2 regulates YAP/TAZ activity in human SC (HSC) cells using biomimetic extracellular matrix hydrogels, and examine whether pharmacological YAP/TAZ inhibition would attenuate TGFβ2-induced HSC cell dysfunction. METHODS: Primary HSC cells were seeded atop photo-cross-linked extracellular matrix hydrogels, made of collagen type I, elastin-like polypeptide and hyaluronic acid, or encapsulated within the hydrogels. HSC cells were induced with TGFβ2 in the absence or presence of concurrent actin destabilization or pharmacological YAP/TAZ inhibition. Changes in actin cytoskeletal organization, YAP/TAZ activity, extracellular matrix production, phospho-myosin light chain levels, and hydrogel contraction were assessed. RESULTS: TGFβ2 significantly increased YAP/TAZ nuclear localization in HSC cells, which was prevented by either filamentous-actin relaxation or depolymerization. Pharmacological YAP/TAZ inhibition using verteporfin without light stimulation decreased fibronectin expression and actomyosin cytoskeletal rearrangement in HSC cells induced by TGFβ2. Similarly, verteporfin significantly attenuated TGFβ2-induced HSC cell-encapsulated hydrogel contraction. CONCLUSIONS: Our data provide evidence for a pathologic role of aberrant YAP/TAZ signaling in HSC cells under simulated glaucomatous conditions and suggest that pharmacological YAP/TAZ inhibition has promising potential to improve outflow tissue dysfunction.
Duke Scholars
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- YAP-Signaling Proteins
- Verteporfin
- Transforming Growth Factor beta2
- Transcriptional Coactivator with PDZ-Binding Motif Proteins
- Transcription Factors
- Trans-Activators
- Phosphoproteins
- Ophthalmology & Optometry
- Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
- Hydrogels
Citation
Published In
DOI
EISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- YAP-Signaling Proteins
- Verteporfin
- Transforming Growth Factor beta2
- Transcriptional Coactivator with PDZ-Binding Motif Proteins
- Transcription Factors
- Trans-Activators
- Phosphoproteins
- Ophthalmology & Optometry
- Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
- Hydrogels