> Publications > BMP2 inhibits myopia progression by upregulating PPARγ in guinea pigs

Photorefractor

Publication

March 26, 2026 • ✎ STRIA TECH

BMP2 inhibits myopia progression by upregulating PPARγ in guinea pigs

Topics:

Myopia

Myopia, Refractive Development and Eye Growth

Publication

Experimental Eye Research (Apr 02, 2026) BMP2 inhibits myopia progression by upregulating PPARγ in guinea pigs

Cai Z, Wang Z, Zhu Y, Li N, Wang M, Du B, Wei R

DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2026.110881 >>

This study suggests that BMP2, a natural protein in the eye, can help slow down the development of short-sightedness (myopia), quantified with Striatech’s Photorefractor. In guinea pigs with induced myopia, BMP2 levels in the white outer layer of the eye (sclera) dropped, while injections of BMP2 partly restored blood flow at the back of the eye and reduced myopia progression. BMP2 also improved tissue structure in the sclera and acted via the PPARγ pathway, making it a promising, accessible candidate for future myopia treatments.

Myopia is the most prevalent eye disease globally with currently no safe and accessible treatments available. Bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) is located in multiple eye tissues and is crucial for eye development and differentiation. Nonetheless, the precise roles of BMP2 in myopia still unclear. In this investigation, we observed a marked decrease in scleral BMP2 levels in form-deprivation myopia (FDM) guinea pigs. Subconjunctival injections of exogenous BMP2 recombinant protein could partially counteract the decline in choroidal blood perfusion (ChBP) and myopia development. Subsequent investigations revealed that BMP2 alleviates the myopia-induced reduction in scleral Collagen type I alpha 1 expression and the elevation of scleral hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) levels. In an in vitro hypoxia model, the inhibition of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) counteracts the influence of BMP2 on scleral extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling in human scleral fibroblasts. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that BMP2 inhibits myopia development and regulates scleral ECM remodeling through the enhancement of PPARγ, highlighting BMP2 as a viable and easily obtainable candidate for myopia management.