LGR4, also known as GPR48, is a member of the leucine-rich, G protein-coupled receptor family. It is widely expressed in tissues of the reproductive system, urinary system, sensory organs, digestive system, and central nervous system. LGR4 plays an important role in the development of various organs and cancer development and progression by modulating multiple signaling pathways. Recent studies have revealed that LGR4 is related with many kinds of human diseases such as gastrointestinal carcinomas. Eye development is a dynamic process regulated by a number of growth factors and cytokines. LGR4 is extensively expressed in the eyes in a finely tuned spatiotemporal pattern. Mice lacking LGR4 have been found to display anterior segment dysgenesis, including microphthalmia, iris hypoplasia, iridocorneal angle malformation and corneal dysgenesis, cataract and other defects. Here we review the role of LGR4 in the eye development and related molecular mechanisms. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2017, 53: 236-240).
G蛋白偶联受体LGR4又名GPR48，是富含亮氨酸的G蛋白偶联受体家族的成员，调控Wnt/β-catenin、肿瘤坏死因子相关激活诱导细胞因子11及其受体、上皮生长因子受体等多种信号通路。LGR4在机体多个器官的发育以及正常的生理过程中起着重要作用，与人类多种疾病的发生也有着密切的联系。LGR4在眼部有着广泛的表达，基因敲除小鼠会出现眼睑发育异常、眼前节发育不良以及年龄相关性白内障等多种眼部缺陷。本文将对LGR4在眼部发育及相关疾病中的作用及其分子机制进行综述，为临床相关研究提供依据。（中华眼科杂志，2017，53：236-240）.
Keywords: Anterior eye segment; Cataract; Corneal diseases; Eye abnormalities; Eyelids; Receptors, G-protein-coupled.