The role of JNK 1 in controlling AQP-1 and choroidal thickness during recovery from form-deprivation myopia in guinea pigs

Abstract

Background: The development and recovery(REC) of myopia is associated with changing of choroidal thickness(CT) in model of guinea pigs. In this process, Aquaporin-1 (AQP-1) is related to changes in choroidal thickness during the recovery from myopia, but the corresponding signaling pathway has not been clarified. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of JNK1 on CT/AQP-1 and the recovery from myopia.Methods: According to the different intravitreal injections in eyes that underwent form deprivation for 21 days, guinea pigs were divided into four groups: the REC group, the REC+anisomycin (agonist for JNK1, REC-AN) group, the REC+SP600125 (inhibitor for JNK1, REC-SP) group, and the REC+DMSO (REC-DM) group. Each group was divided into three subgroups according to the time of removal of the deprivation: 3 days (d), 7 d and 10 d. All animals underwent biometric measurements (refractive error, axial length (AL), and CT), and the protein expression of AQP-1 and p-JNK1 in the choroid was also measured.Results: In the REC and REC-DM groups, significant differences in CT/ refractive error /AL/p-JNK1 or AQP-1 were only found in the 3d group compared with the normal control (NC) group (all p<0.05). In the REC-AN group, CT/p-JNK1 or AQP-1 in the 3d group was significantly higher than that in the other 3d’ groups (all p<0.05), but no significant difference in refractive error or AL was found compared with that in the NC group (all p>0.05). In the REC-SP group, a significant difference in refractive error /CT/p-JNK1 or AQP1 was found in the 3d/7d group compared with the NC group (all p<0.05), but AL was only found in the 3d groups (both p=0.001).Conclusions: Changes in JNK1 phosphorylation can regulate AQP-1 and CT during the recovery from myopia and the recovery time. Thus, JNK1 may be a potential therapeutic target for preventing/treating myopia.