miR-16-2 Mediates IGF1R Involvement in Scleral Collagen Crosslinking Accelerated by Pulsed Ultraviolet a Radiation for the Prevention of Progressive Myopia

Abstract

Purpose: To observe the therapeutic effect of pulsed ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation-mediated acceleration of scleral collagen crosslinking in a mouse model of myopia and clarify the regulatory mechanism of microRNA (miR) in the expression of proteins related to scleral remodelling. Methods: After isolating scleral fibroblasts (SFs) of lens-defocused myopic mice which underwent scleral collagen crosslinking with pulsed UVA, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), Western blotting and dual luciferase reporter assay were used to evaluate signal transduction pathways in miR-16-2-induced scleral collagen related proteins synthesis, and validate the targeting relationship of miR-16-2 and insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF1R). Results: The scleral crosslinking accelerated by pulsed UVA might play an active role in the expression of miR-16-2, which targeted downregulated of IGF1R, thereby decreasing the phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-AKT) and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP2) levels and increasing the expression of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases-2 (TIMP2) and collagen 1A. Conclusions: Scleral collagen crosslinking accelerated by pulsed UVA radiation could prevent and control the progression of myopia by increasing miR-16-2 expression in a mouse model, inhibiting IGF1R expression and promoting the synthesis of scleral collagen.