Netrin‐4 Modulates Corneal Wound Healing by Enhancing Corneal Epithelium and Nerve Regeneration

ABSTRACT Axon guidance proteins have been found to play a regenerative role in the peripheral nervous system and the cornea. Netrin‐4 is a member of the Netrins family of axon guidance proteins implicated in diabetic retinopathy and corneal hemangiogenesis. However, its effects on corneal nerve and...

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Main Authors: Cissy Xiao, Daniel Lara‐Newman, Qiang Zhou, Mark I. Rosenblatt, Victor H. Guaiquil
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-06-01
Series:FASEB BioAdvances
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1096/fba.2025-00064
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author Cissy Xiao
Daniel Lara‐Newman
Qiang Zhou
Mark I. Rosenblatt
Victor H. Guaiquil
author_facet Cissy Xiao
Daniel Lara‐Newman
Qiang Zhou
Mark I. Rosenblatt
Victor H. Guaiquil
author_sort Cissy Xiao
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Axon guidance proteins have been found to play a regenerative role in the peripheral nervous system and the cornea. Netrin‐4 is a member of the Netrins family of axon guidance proteins implicated in diabetic retinopathy and corneal hemangiogenesis. However, its effects on corneal nerve and epithelium repair are not well understood. We performed in vitro and in vivo studies to assess the effects of Netrin‐4 in corneal wound healing. We found that Netrin‐4 induced extensive neurite growth and branching in trigeminal ganglia neurons and accelerated the scratch closure of corneal epithelial cells. In vivo, the dual action of Netrin‐4 enhanced corneal epithelium healing and nerve regeneration in mice subjected to corneal epithelium debridement. Inhibition studies demonstrate that Netrin‐4‐induced neuronal growth may be mediated by interaction with Neogenin or α6β1 Integrin receptors. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that Netrin‐4 has trophic and neuroregenerative effects in the cornea and could be a suitable therapeutic target to treat corneal injury.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 2573-9832
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series FASEB BioAdvances
spelling doaj-art-a23767419e4d4449bc5b68c874ee6f702025-08-20T03:46:04ZengWileyFASEB BioAdvances2573-98322025-06-0176n/an/a10.1096/fba.2025-00064Netrin‐4 Modulates Corneal Wound Healing by Enhancing Corneal Epithelium and Nerve RegenerationCissy Xiao0Daniel Lara‐Newman1Qiang Zhou2Mark I. Rosenblatt3Victor H. Guaiquil4Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences University of Illinois‐Chicago Chicago Illinois USADepartment of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences University of Illinois‐Chicago Chicago Illinois USADepartment of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences University of Illinois‐Chicago Chicago Illinois USADepartment of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences University of Illinois‐Chicago Chicago Illinois USADepartment of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences University of Illinois‐Chicago Chicago Illinois USAABSTRACT Axon guidance proteins have been found to play a regenerative role in the peripheral nervous system and the cornea. Netrin‐4 is a member of the Netrins family of axon guidance proteins implicated in diabetic retinopathy and corneal hemangiogenesis. However, its effects on corneal nerve and epithelium repair are not well understood. We performed in vitro and in vivo studies to assess the effects of Netrin‐4 in corneal wound healing. We found that Netrin‐4 induced extensive neurite growth and branching in trigeminal ganglia neurons and accelerated the scratch closure of corneal epithelial cells. In vivo, the dual action of Netrin‐4 enhanced corneal epithelium healing and nerve regeneration in mice subjected to corneal epithelium debridement. Inhibition studies demonstrate that Netrin‐4‐induced neuronal growth may be mediated by interaction with Neogenin or α6β1 Integrin receptors. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that Netrin‐4 has trophic and neuroregenerative effects in the cornea and could be a suitable therapeutic target to treat corneal injury.https://doi.org/10.1096/fba.2025-00064axon guidance proteinscornea wound healingnerve regenerationNetrin‐4
spellingShingle Cissy Xiao
Daniel Lara‐Newman
Qiang Zhou
Mark I. Rosenblatt
Victor H. Guaiquil
Netrin‐4 Modulates Corneal Wound Healing by Enhancing Corneal Epithelium and Nerve Regeneration
FASEB BioAdvances
axon guidance proteins
cornea wound healing
nerve regeneration
Netrin‐4
title Netrin‐4 Modulates Corneal Wound Healing by Enhancing Corneal Epithelium and Nerve Regeneration
title_full Netrin‐4 Modulates Corneal Wound Healing by Enhancing Corneal Epithelium and Nerve Regeneration
title_fullStr Netrin‐4 Modulates Corneal Wound Healing by Enhancing Corneal Epithelium and Nerve Regeneration
title_full_unstemmed Netrin‐4 Modulates Corneal Wound Healing by Enhancing Corneal Epithelium and Nerve Regeneration
title_short Netrin‐4 Modulates Corneal Wound Healing by Enhancing Corneal Epithelium and Nerve Regeneration
title_sort netrin 4 modulates corneal wound healing by enhancing corneal epithelium and nerve regeneration
topic axon guidance proteins
cornea wound healing
nerve regeneration
Netrin‐4
url https://doi.org/10.1096/fba.2025-00064
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AT daniellaranewman netrin4modulatescornealwoundhealingbyenhancingcornealepitheliumandnerveregeneration
AT qiangzhou netrin4modulatescornealwoundhealingbyenhancingcornealepitheliumandnerveregeneration
AT markirosenblatt netrin4modulatescornealwoundhealingbyenhancingcornealepitheliumandnerveregeneration
AT victorhguaiquil netrin4modulatescornealwoundhealingbyenhancingcornealepitheliumandnerveregeneration