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Type 2 diabetes is one of the leading pathologies that increases the risk of improper wound healing. Obesity has become a major risk factor for this disease that is now considered to be the 4th highest cause of preventable blindness according to the World Health Organization. The cornea is the most densely innervated structure in the human body and senses even the slightest injury. In diabetes, decreased corneal sensitivity secondary to diabetic peripheral neuropathy can lead to increased corneal abrasion, ulceration, and even blindness. In this study, a diet induced obesity (DIO) mouse model of pre-Type 2 diabetes was used to characterize changes in sensory nerves and P2X7, a purinoreceptor, a pain receptor, and an ion channel that is expressed in a number of tissues. Since our previous studies demonstrated that P2X7 mRNA was significantly elevated in diabetic human corneas, we examined P2X7 expression and localization in the DIO murine model at various times after being fed a high fat diet. Fifteen weeks after onset of diet, we found that there was a significant decrease in the density of sub-basal nerves in the DIO mice that was associated with an increase in tortuosity and a decrease in diameter. In addition, P2X7 mRNA expression was significantly greater in the corneal epithelium of DIO mice, and the increase in transcript was enhanced in the central migrating and peripheral regions after injury. Interestingly, confocal microscopy and thresholding analysis revealed that there was a significant increase in P2X7 distal to the injury, which contrasted with a decrease in P2X7-expressing stromal sensory nerves. Therefore, we hypothesize that the P2X7 receptor acts to sense changes at the leading edge following an epithelial abrasion, and this fine-tuned regulation is lost during the onset of diabetes. Further understanding of the corneal changes that occur in diabetes can help us better monitor progression of diabetic complications, as well as develop new therapeutics for the treatment of diabetic corneal dysfunction.

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