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Article
Peer-Review Record

Effect of MiRNA 204-5P Mimics and Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammation on Transcription Factor Levels, Cell Maintenance, and Retinoic Acid Signaling in Primary Limbal Epithelial Cells

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(8), 3809; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26083809
by Maryam Amini 1, Tanja Stachon 1, Shao-Lun Hsu 1, Zhen Li 1, Ning Chai 1, Fabian N. Fries 1,2, Berthold Seitz 2, Swarnali Kundu 1, Shweta Suiwal 1 and Nóra Szentmáry 1,*
Reviewer 1:
Reviewer 2: Anonymous
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(8), 3809; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26083809
Submission received: 13 January 2025 / Revised: 2 April 2025 / Accepted: 4 April 2025 / Published: 17 April 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Molecular and Cellular Research in Ophthalmology)

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The authors characterized the functions of MicroRNA miR-204-5p in the primary limbal epithelial cells by characterizing the transcript and protein levels of a few of genes that function as transcription factor, cytokines, or extracellular matrix under normal and LPS-induced inflammation. I can’t be positive for publication of this manuscript.

1. This study is not driven by a specific scientific question or a hypothesis.

2. The manuscript is not well organized. The results-section even has no subtitles to summarize the main results obtained in this study.

3. For Western blot assay, the specificities of the antibodies are low. The binds for the target proteins and internal reference are not derived from the same membrane.

4. The authors haven’t described why they chose to analyze the genes and proteins.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This manuscript describes the role of microRNA-204-5p in regulating gene expressions related to transcription levels, cell maintenance/inflammation, cell structures, and retinoic acid signaling, using qPCR under both normal and inflammatory conditions. The protein level change was evaluated by ELISA or Western Blot. As a conclusion, the authors proposed new targets of microRNA-204-5p and a model of protein-protein interactions. Overall, this manuscript is appropriate for publishing in International Journal of Molecular Sciences, because it intends to reveal critical molecular regulations of miRNA in a disease-relevant context. However, there are critical issues in their experimental designs and result discussion. Therefore, I recommend this paper be reevaluated after major revision. These issues are listed as follows:

Experimental design:

  1. The authors only did protein analysis for genes that showed a change in their mRNA level. However, it is known that the change in protein and mRNA is not directly correlated and no difference in mRNA can not ensure that there is no difference in protein synthesis. I recommend the authors evaluate both mRNA and protein for candidate targets in parallel before drawing a conclusion.
  2. Due to the fact that mRNA change didn’t agree with the protein change, to validate the role of miRNA in controlling cell behaviors, cell proliferation/migration/differentiation should be evaluated using complementary assays (e.g. cell growth rate measurement, cell migration speed measurement, cell differentiation markers).
  3. After transfection, the level of microRNA-204-5p for control and experimental groups needs to be tested to validate the model.

Discussion:

  1. In line 224 discussing the change of FOXC1, the hypothesis “ reduced miR-204-5p levels may decrease FOXC1 expression, potentially leading to reduced cell proliferation and increased migration” is confusing. This is contradictory to their result, that miR-204-5p overexpression decreased FOXC1 expression. Also, does miR-204-5p cause an opposite effect on cell migration and proliferation? Why there is reduced proliferation concurrent with increased migration? Please read carefully and correct your statement if there is any misleading information.
  2. In line 235, the authors cited their previous work that miR-204-5p overexpression, which reduced FOSL2, further decreased VEGF expression. But they also cited a previous study showing FOSL2 reduction led to upregulation of proangiogenic genes, which is contradictory to their finding. They need to clarify the effect of miR-204-5p on vascularization.
  3. At the end, they proposed FOXC1 and KRT3 as new targets for mi-204-5p, while FOXC1 has been found as a target in cancer cells. So they can not claim it as a new target. In contrast, they proposed FOSL2 as a new target when discussing it. Please clarify “new targets” in conclusion.

Author Response

Please see attachment

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The authors have addressed some of my concerns. The manuscript should be thoroughly checked to enhance readability. 

Author Response

Please see the attachment. Thank you.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

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