14-3-3 Controls Corneal Epithelium Homeostasis and Wound Healing

PURPOSE. To investigate the functional role of 14-3-3 in regu-lation of the corneal epithelial proliferation, differentiation, and wound-healing response. METHODS. Corneal phenotypes were investigated in heterozy-gous repeated epilation (Er) mice carrying mutations in the sfn (14-3-3) gene. Immunohistochemistry was used to study the corneal morphogenesis of the Er/Er embryos at embryonic day (E)18.5. Corneal homeostasis and the wound-healing response were investigated macroscopically and microscopically in the adult heterozygous Er mice. Corneal epithelial cell prolifera-tion and differentiation were assessed by BrdU incorporation and immunohistochemistry with specific antibodies for differ-entiation markers. Furthermore, corneal stroma neovascular-ization and meibomian gland degeneration were examined by immunohistochemistry. The healing of corneal wounds afte