Role of retinoic acid-related orphan receptor gamma transcription factor (RORɣ) in keratoconus pathology

Authors

  • Niyati S Sharma Genes, Repair and regeneration at Ophthalmic Workstation (GROW) Research Laboratory, Narayana Nethralaya Foundation, Narayana Nethralaya, Bommasandra, Bangalore
  • Nimisha Kumar
  • Rohit Shetty
  • Arkasubhra Ghosh
  • Swaminathan Sethu

Abstract

Keratoconus (KC) is a complex, multifactorial, inflammatory disorder characterized by ectasia and steepening of the cornea, leading to visual impairment. The characteristic pathophysiological features of KC develop as a result of progressive dysregulation of the extracellular matrix proteins (collagens (COL) I and IV) and their regulators (lysyl oxidase (LOX) and matrix metalloprotease (MMP) 9) as well as an aberrant inflammatory cytokine profile. The abundance of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-17, in the tear fluid of KC patients could potentially trigger pathogenic signalling cascades culminating in aberrant ECM remodeling through yet to be explored mechanisms. Traditionally, IL-17 has been ascribed to regulate Th-17 cell maturation and development of autoimmunity. However, since KC is a stromal disease with epithelial contribution, we tested if the corneal epithelium has the capacity to produce IL-17. We investigate the potential regulation of increased IL-17 in tears of KC patients by evaluating the levels of its regulator, the transcription factor retinoic acid-related orphan receptor gamma (RORg).

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Published

06-09-2018

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 1 (2018)

Section

Abstracts

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