TY - JOUR
T1 - Transforming growth factor-β1 induces α-smooth muscle actin expression and fibronectin synthesis in cultured human retinal pigment epithelial cells
AU - Stocks, Shelli Z.
AU - Taylor, Steve M.
AU - Shiels, Ian A.
PY - 2001
Y1 - 2001
N2 - Background: Proliferative vitreoretinopathy is a serious complication of retinal detachment, yet its pathogenesis is not fully understood. Retinal pigment epithelial cells and glial cells are found in the fibrous membranes in proliferative vitreoretinopathy. Many cytokines are involved in the pathology. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, a cytokine found in serum, has been shown to be an important factor regulating the synthesis of fibrous extracellular matrix in proliferative vitreoretinopathy. Methods: Cultured human retinal pigment epithelial cells were used in the experiments. The effects of TGF-β1 on phenotype and function in retinal pigment epithelial cells were recorded as changes in the expression of α-smooth muscle actin and fibronectin synthesis using immunohistochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Results: TGF-β1 induced the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (P < 0.0001, n = 3), significantly increased the synthesis of fibronectin by cultured human retinal pigment epithelial cells (P < 0.01, n = 4). Conclusions: Elevated levels of TGF-β1 in proliferative vitreoretinopathy may contribute to phenotype changes in retinal pigment epithelial cells leading to matrix deposition and contraction. Since the elevated levels of TGF-β1 may emanate from a number of diverse sources in proliferative vitreoretinopathy, developing an antagonist to TGF-β1 may offer an approach to the treatment of proliferative vitreoretinopathy.
AB - Background: Proliferative vitreoretinopathy is a serious complication of retinal detachment, yet its pathogenesis is not fully understood. Retinal pigment epithelial cells and glial cells are found in the fibrous membranes in proliferative vitreoretinopathy. Many cytokines are involved in the pathology. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, a cytokine found in serum, has been shown to be an important factor regulating the synthesis of fibrous extracellular matrix in proliferative vitreoretinopathy. Methods: Cultured human retinal pigment epithelial cells were used in the experiments. The effects of TGF-β1 on phenotype and function in retinal pigment epithelial cells were recorded as changes in the expression of α-smooth muscle actin and fibronectin synthesis using immunohistochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Results: TGF-β1 induced the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (P < 0.0001, n = 3), significantly increased the synthesis of fibronectin by cultured human retinal pigment epithelial cells (P < 0.01, n = 4). Conclusions: Elevated levels of TGF-β1 in proliferative vitreoretinopathy may contribute to phenotype changes in retinal pigment epithelial cells leading to matrix deposition and contraction. Since the elevated levels of TGF-β1 may emanate from a number of diverse sources in proliferative vitreoretinopathy, developing an antagonist to TGF-β1 may offer an approach to the treatment of proliferative vitreoretinopathy.
KW - Fibronectin
KW - Retinal pigment epithelium
KW - Transforming growth factor-β.
KW - α-smooth muscle actin
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0035112898&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1046/j.1442-9071.2001.00368.x
DO - 10.1046/j.1442-9071.2001.00368.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 11272783
AN - SCOPUS:0035112898
SN - 1442-6404
VL - 29
SP - 33
EP - 37
JO - Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology
JF - Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology
IS - 1
ER -