Expression of collagen-binding integrin receptors in the mammalian sclera and their regulation during the development of myopia

Abstract

PURPOSE. The sclera has a collagen-rich extracellular matrix that undergoes significant biochemical and biomechanical remodeling during myopic eye growth. The integrin family of cell surface receptors play critical roles in extracellular matrix and biomechanical remodeling in connective tissues. This study identified the major collagen-binding integrin receptors in the mammalian sclera and investigated their mRNA expression during the development of and recovery from experimental myopia. METHODS. The presence of the α1, α2, and β1 integrin subunits was examined by using tree-shrew-specific primers and RT-PCR. Scleral expression of α1β1 and α2β1 receptor proteins was further investigated by u..