The role of the osmosensitive transcription factor NFAT5 in corneal edema resorption after injury

Abstract

Vision: Potential therapeutic target for corneal blindness A protein called nuclear factor of activated T cells 5 (NFAT5) plays a significant role in maintaining fluid balance in the cornea, the anterior part of the eye. Disturbances in corneal fluid balance and pathological swelling known as edema potentially lead to loss of corneal transparency and blindness. Deniz Hos and colleagues at the University of Cologne, Germany, studied the functional role of NFAT5 in a mouse model of corneal injury. They found that corneal injury induced significantly increased NFAT5 activity. Furthermore, NFAT5 in macrophages was crucial for controlling corneal fluid balance and the extent of and recovery from corneal edema. These results suggest that drugs able to modify NFAT5 activity could offer a novel way to combat edema-induced corneal blindness.