Abstract
Purpose:
Tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK), a member of TNF superfamily, has several roles including angiogenesis, differentiation control, chemokine production, and so on. We previously reported the effectiveness of TWEAK in corneal keratocyte (Ebihara et al, Exp Eye Res, 2009), and in retinal pigment epithelial cell (Ebihara et al, Curr Eye Res, 2009). The roles of TWEAK in corneal endothelial cells was examined this time.
Methods:
(1) The expression of Fn14, receptor of TWEAK, was examined with human corneal endothelial cells by FACS. (2) Protein array and ELISA were conducted to measure TWEAK concentration in human aqueous humor. (3) The chemokine expression in cultured human corneal endothelial cells (cHCECs) was examined with TWEAK or TWEAK/TFG-β. (4) Cell adhesion, proliferation, and migration of cHCECs were investigated with adhesion, proliferation and in vitro scratch assays, in addition of TWEAK or TWEAK/TGF-β.
Results:
(1)Fn14 receptor was expressed on corneal endothelial cells. (2) Soluble TWEAK was slightly detected in human aqueous humor. (3) TWEAK stimulated the expression of RANTES, IL-8, MCP-1 in cHCECs. TGF-β inhibited previous expression, but TGF-β with TWEAK lost the inhibition. (4) TWEAK promoted migration of cHCECs.
Conclusions:
There are possibilities that an adequate concentration of TWEAK in aqueous humor may maintain constancy of corneal endothelial cells and that excessive expression of TWEAK may induce inflammation.
Keywords: 481 cornea: endothelium •
480 cornea: basic science