Expression patterns of β1-related α integrin subunits in murine lens during embryonic development and wound healing

Purpose. To study the expression patterns of beta1-related alpha integrin subunits in murine lens epithelial cells, comparing embryonic fiber differentiation with injury-induced epithelia] mesenchymal transition (EMT). Methods. Adult mice type C57BL/6, pregnant as well as with an eye injured, were sacrificed at different time-course intervals. The embryonic and the injured eyes were obtained and deparaffinized sections of these eyes were processed for immunohistochemistry staining for detection of integrin a subunits. Results. Embryonic lens epithelial cells expressed primarily alpha3 and alpha5 subunits, whereas embryonic fiber cells expressed alpha2, alpha5, and alpha6 subunits. Adult lens epithelial cells expressed alpha3, and alpha6 subunits, whereas injured lens cells expressed alpha2, alpha3, and alpha6 integrin subunits. Conclusions. The phenotypic changes of lens epithelial cells during embryonic fiber differentiation and EMT are characterized by different expression of integrin subunits as a result both of the altered extracellular matrix conditions and of the altered cell signaling pathways recruited in each process.