Abstract
Purpose:
To examined the roles of TNFα, a major proinflammatory cytokine, in the process of tissue repair in mouse conjunctiva in vivo and the fibrogenic responses of of cultured human subconjunctival fibroblasts (hSCFs) as well.
Methods:
A circumferential incision was made in the equatorial conjunctiva of the right eye of generally anesthetized TNFα-null (KO) and wild-type (WT) mice using scissors. At 2, 5, 7 and 10 days, the eyes were processed for histology and immunohistochemistry to evaluate the tissue repair process. Expression of type I collagen and growth factors was evaluated by real time PCR (RT-PCR). The effects of TNFα (10 ng/ml) on production of a smooth muscle actin (αSMA) and type I collagen and Smad3 phosphorylation using cultured hSCFs with or without TGFβ1 (5 ng/ml) were also studied. Effects of TNFα on hSCFs proliferation, migration and Erk activation were finally examined.
Results:
TNFα KO mice showed severe macrophage invasion, marked generation of myofibroblasts in healing subconjuncitval tissue and upregulation of mRNAs of fibrogenic components, i. e., TGFβ1, CTGF and Col1a2 chain in comparison to those of WT mice. In vitro experiments with cultured hSCFs showed that TNFα suppressed the protein expression of αSMA and type I collagen, as well as Smad3 phosphorylation, upon TGFβ1 stimulation. TNFα activated Erk signal and enhance cell migration and proliferation.
Conclusions:
Expression of TNFα in situ has an essential role for normal tissue repair in mouse conjunctiva and ablation of TNFα in mice leads to excess inflammation and tissue fibrosis. Administration of counteracts TGFβ1/Smad3 activation, and stimulates Erk activation and proliferation and migration of TNFα to cultured hSCFs that may account for manifestations in the wound healing excess inflammation and fibrosis seen in TNFα null mice.
Keywords: 765 wound healing •
519 extracellular matrix •
714 signal transduction