TGFβ mediated structural remodeling facilitates optic fissure fusion and the necessity of BMP antagonism in this process

The optic fissure is a transient gap in the developing vertebrate eye, which must be closed as development proceeds. A persisting optic fissure, coloboma, is a major cause for blindness in children. Multiple factors are genetically linked to coloboma formation. However, especially the process of optic fissure fusion is still largely elusive on a cellular and molecular basis. We found a coloboma phenotype in mice with a targeted inactivation of the transforming growth factor 2 (TGFβ2). Here the optic fissure margins got in touch, however, failed to fuse. Transcriptomic analyses indicated TGFβ mediated ECM remodeling during optic fissure fusion. For functional analyses, we switched model systems and made use of zebrafish. We found TGFβ ligands expressed in the developing zebrafish eye, and the ligand binding receptor in the optic fissure. Using a new in vivo TGFβ signaling reporter, we also found active TGFβ signaling in the margins of the optic fissure. We addressed the function of Cadherin 6 (cdh6), one of the TGFβ regulated genes, by knock down experiments in zebrafish and found a prominent coloboma phenotype. Cdh6 was often found involved in processes of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), strengthening our hypothesis that an EMT-like process is also necessary for optic fissure fusion. Furthermore, we found Gremlin 2b (grem2b) and Follistatin a (fsta), homologs of TGFβ regulated bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) antagonists, expressed in the optic fissure margins, indicating the necessity of a localized inhibition of BMP signaling. Finally, we show that induced BMP expression is sufficient to inhibit optic fissure fusion. Together with our previous findings this indicates a dual role of BMP signaling during optic fissure closure.