The transcription factor KLF4, together with PAX6, is essential for the commitment of corneal epithelial cell fate
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ABSTRACT: Lineage-specific transcription factors (TFs) play key roles in maintaining the unique properties of cells, but the molecular mechanism that regulates the homeostasis of human corneal epithelial cells (CECs) is still poorly understood. We aimed to modulate KLF4 and PAX6 in human CECs using gene knockout system to clarify the regulatory network of KLF4, and then elucidate how KLF4 regulates the transcriptional genes of human CECs compared with PAX6. We performed a functional analysis of KLF4 via gene knockout using a lentivirus vector that carries both Cas9 and guide RNAs. We designed guide RNAs targeted for KLF4 and PAX6, and created KLF4-, PAX6-, and both KLF4- and PAX6-depleted CECs (KLF4-KO, PAX6-KO, and DKO, respectively). An empty vector was used as a control. The morphology of KLF4-KO CECs displayed an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-like change, including upregulation of mesenchymal genes and downregulation of epithelial genes, as well as downregulation of keratin (KRT) 3 and KRT12. Global analyses using NGS revealed that the downregulated genes in KLF4-KO CECs were enriched in more widely keratin-related genes than PAX6-KO CECs. DKO cells showed disruption of the epithelial barrier due to downregulation of epithelial genes and showed more increase of KRT1 and KRT10 than PAX6-KO and KLF4-KO CECs, respectively. In conclusion, KLF4 modulates keratin-related genes as well as EMT-related genes and, together with PAX6, co-regulates the human CEC identity.
ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens
PROVIDER: GSE198977 | GEO | 2022/07/27
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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