Jennifer Tran

Dr. Jennifer Tran


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

6Years (2021-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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12 November 2021 in Biomolecules
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
VYVincent Yeung
Vincent Yeung
SSSriniwas Sriram
Sriniwas Sriram
JTJennifer Tran
Jennifer Tran
XGXiaoqing Guo
Xiaoqing Guo
AHAudrey E.K. Hutcheon
Audrey E.K. Hutcheon
JCJoseph B. Ciolino
Joseph B. Ciolino
Corneal fibrosis (or scarring) occurs in response to ocular trauma or infection, and by reducing corneal transparency, it can lead to visual impairment and blindness. Studies highlight important roles for transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and -β3 as modulators in corneal wound healing and fibrosis, leading to increased extracellular matrix (ECM) components and expression of α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA), a myofibroblast marker. In this study, human corneal fibroblasts (hCF) were cultured as a monolayer culture (2D) or on poly-transwell membranes to generate corneal stromal constructs (3D) that were treated with TGF-β1, TGF-β3, or TGF-β1 + FAK inhibitor (FAKi). Results show that hCF 3D constructs treated with TGF-β1 or TGF-β3 impart distinct effects on genes involved in wound healing and fibrosis—ITGAV, ITGB1, SRC and ACTA2. Notably, in the 3D construct model, TGF-β1 enhanced αSMA and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) protein expression, whereas TGF-β3 did not. In addition, in both the hCF 2D cell and 3D construct models, we found that TGF-β1 + FAKi attenuated TGF-β1-mediated myofibroblast differentiation, as shown by abrogated αSMA expression. This study concludes that FAK signaling is important for the onset of TGF-β1-mediated myofibroblast differentiation, and FAK inhibition may provide a novel beneficial therapeutic avenue to reduce corneal scarring.

7 March 2025
Verified
Book Chapter
Closed access
PDF file
JTJennifer Tran
Jennifer Tran
KHKathryn M. Hatch
Kathryn M. Hatch
NVNandini Venkateswaran
Nandini Venkateswaran