BrightFocus Foundation
BrightFocus Foundation

Crosstalk of TGF-Beta and Wnt Pathways in the Trabecular Meshwork

Principal Investigator

Weiming Mao, PhD

Weiming Mao, PhD

University of North Texas Health Science Center
Fort Worth, TX, United States
Acknowledgement
Recipient of the Thomas R. Lee award for National Glaucoma Research.

Project Goals

TGF-beta and Wnt signaling pathways are involved in intraocular pressure regulation and glaucoma pathogenesis. We are trying to identify the genes that mediate the crosstalk between the two pathways. By using these genes as therapeutic targets, we will be able manipulate both pathways at the same time and find a more effective way of restoring aqueous outflow in the TM, thereby lowering IOP and treating glaucoma.

Project Summary

Changes in two networks of proteins—named the TGF‐beta and Wnt pathways—can promote “clogs” in the drainage system of the eye—the trabecular meshwork (TM). These clogs cause an increase in eye pressure and may lead to glaucoma. Dr. Weiming Mao and colleagues will first screen the TGF‐beta and Wnt pathways to identify the specific proteins that are involved in cross‐talk between these two networks. Then, they will test whether the TM drain structure and eye pressure can be brought back to normal after genetically increasing or decreasing the levels of these cross‐talk proteins in cultured cells and animal models of glaucoma. If one of the proteins ends up influencing eye pressure through the TGF‐beta and Wnt pathways, then a drug could be designed to better control eye pressure in glaucoma.

Progress Updates

Dr. Mao’s team has discovered that there are components that mediate the cross-talk between the TGF-Beta and Wnt protein signaling pathways in human and cow trabecular meshwork (TM) cells. They found four genes in primary human TM cells that are significantly affected by this process. In the future, the team will overexpress, knock down, or use small molecule inhibitors to investigate whether manipulation of these four genes is able to “cut-off” the cross-talk. In addition, they will test whether two other “hypothesis-driven” target genes are involved in this process.

Publications

Mao et al., Existence of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway in the human trabecular meshwork. IOVS 2012 Oct 9;53(11):7043-51.

Mao et al., (2012) Crosstalk Between The Wnt And TGF-beta Pathways In The Trabecular Meshwork. ARVO E-abstract 53:2747

Mao W., Millar J.C., Wang W.H., Silverman S.M., Liu Y., Wordinger R.J., Rubin J.S., Pang I.H., Clark A.F. (2012) Existence of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway in the human trabecular meshwork. IOVS 53(11):7043-51 PubMed Icon Google Scholar Icon
 

First published on: July 06, 2011

Last modified on: May 01, 2024