Wnt7a Can Up-Regulate Cell Adhesion Related Protein Fibronectin Expression and Promote Cell Proliferation in Corneal Epithelial Cells

The study investigated the role of Wnt7a in promoting corneal epithelium proliferation and its mechanisms. It was found that Wnt7a protein is primarily located at the base of the corneal limbus and increases in expression after corneal injury. Experiments with human corneal epithelium cells (HCECs) demonstrated that Wnt7a enhances cell proliferation and upregulates cell adhesion-related genes, such as fibronectin, as confirmed by transcriptome sequencing and western blotting. These findings suggest that Wnt7a plays a crucial role in corneal repair by enhancing cell adhesion and proliferation.