NR2F1 promotes cataract via STAT-3
Mechanistic insights into how NR2F1 promotes lens epithelial cell apoptosis and cataract-associated fibrosis.
image: (A) The anesthetized and dilated mice were positioned beneath a microscope for the ASC modeling procedure. (B) Cataract lesions in control and ASC mice using a slit lamp. (C) Hematoxylin and eosin staining in lens section of control and ASC mice. Scale bar, 100 μm. (D) Masson staining of the two groups. Scale bar, 100 μm. (E) The immunofluorescence results of FN1 and VIM in lens slides of control and ASC groups. Scale bar, 50 μm. (F, G) The protein expression and quantification of apoptosis-related markers BAX and CASP3 in control and ASC groups. n = 3 per group; mean ± standard deviation; **P < 0.01; unpaired student's t-test). (H, I) The protein level and quantitative chart of NR2F1 in the two groups mentioned above. n = 3 per group; mean ± standard deviation; *P < 0.05; unpaired student's t-test. NR2F1, nuclear receptor subfamily 2 group F member 1; ASC, anterior subcapsular cataract; FN1, fibronectin 1; VIM, vimentin; BAX, Bcl-2-associated X; CASP3, caspase 3.
Credit: Genes & Diseases
Cataracts are a prevalent ocular condition characterized by a progressive decline in vision, ultimately leading to blindness. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and the subsequent migration of lens epithelial cells are major contributors to cataracts formation. Nonetheless, the mechanisms underlying this transition remain largely unknown.
In a recent study published in the Genes & Diseases journal, researchers from Chongqing Medical University investigated the role of nuclear receptor subfamily 2 group F member 1 (NR2F1/COUP-TFI), a transcriptional regulator involved in numerous biological processes, in promoting cataracts.
The authors observed higher protein expression of NR2F1/COUP-TFI in an anterior subcapsular cataract (ASC) mice model and TGF-β1-treated SRA01/04 cells, along with a concomitant increase in the expression of fibrotic markers, such as fibronectin 1 and vimentin, as well as apoptotic markers Bax and caspase 3, suggesting a contributory role of NR2F1 in ASC. However, single-cell data obtained from the embryonic eye dataset (GSE228370) showed lower NR2F1 mRNA levels in epithelial cells compared to fibrocytes. Further experimentation led the authors to attribute this disparity to TGF-β1-induced autophagy suppression in epithelial cells, which may account for the increased NR2F1 protein levels.
NR2F1 knockdown experiments clearly indicate that NR2F1 inhibition i) attenuates fibrosis progression and ii) suppresses apoptosis and migration in lens epithelial cells, both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, NR2F1 directly interacts with the STAT3 promoter, resulting in its transcription. In turn, STAT3 promotes fibrosis and enhances lens epithelial cell migration and apoptosis, ultimately leading to the development of cataracts.
In conclusion, this study shows that NR2F1 interacts directly with the STAT3 promoter to increase its transcription, resulting in fibrosis and lens epithelial cell apoptosis and migration, ultimately leading to the formation of cataracts.
Reference
Title of the original paper: Autophagy-induced NR2F1 activation promotes the apoptosis of lens epithelial cells and facilitates cataract-associated fibrosis through targeting STAT3
Journal: Genes & Diseases
Genes & Diseases
Genes & Diseases is a journal for molecular and translational medicine. The journal primarily focuses on publishing investigations on the molecular bases and experimental therapeutics of human diseases. Publication formats include full length research article, review article, short communication, correspondence, perspectives, commentary, views on news, and research watch.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gendis.2025.101549
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