Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: It has been reported that the level of all-trans-retinoic acid in the choroid is increased in form-deprivation myopia in a primate model (marmoset). The effects of retinoic acids on the growth of cultured human scleral fibroblasts from donor eyes were studied. Methods: Two cell lines of human scleral fibroblasts were isolated from donor eyes using implant methods described previously. Cells were plated into multiple well plates and cultured with F12/DMDM medium supplemented with 10% serum with or without various retinoic acids at different concentrations. All groups were tested in triplicate. After 6 days, the cells were detached, counted and compared to the controls. Results: Both all trans-retinoic acid (trans-RA) and 13-cis-retinoic acid (cis-RA) inhibited cell growth in a dose-dependent manner at concentrations from 0.1nM to 1.0 µM (P < 0.01 at all concentrations as compared with controls). The numbers of scleral fibroblasts cultured with trans-RA and cis-RA at 1 µM were 34% and 45% of the controls, respectively. Conclusion: Retinoic acid showed marked anti-proliferative effects on human scleral fibroblasts at concentrations from 0.1 nM to 1.0 µM, it indicating that retinoic acid might be one of the molecules in the signal cascade regulating scleral changes in the form-deprivation myopia.