Abstract
Purpose:
To examine the effects of travoprost on the expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in cultured human corneal epithelial cells (HCE) and expression pattern of E-cadherin and Ki67 in epithelium of an organ-cultured mouse cornea. We previously reported that Travatanz® and the ingredient, travoprost, both diluted X100, promotes spreading of corneal epithelium in organ-culture and HCE proliferation (ARVO 2011, 2012).
Methods:
Confluent HCE culture was treated with travoprost at the concentration equivalent to travatanz® (Alcon) x100 diluted. mRNA expression of EGF, TGFb1 and VEGF was examined by real-time RT-PCR. Eye globes of C57/BL6 mice were cultured in serum-free medium in the presence of travoprost at the concentration same as above or EGF (10 ng/ml) for 48 hrs. Expression pattern of E-cadherin and Ki67 was observed by using immunohistochemistry.
Results:
Travoprost increased mRNA expression of EGF, but not TGFb1 and VEGF. Adding either travoprost or EGF promoted KI67 expression in basal epithelial cells and also altered the expression pattern of E-cadherin in corneal epithelium; E-cadherin was faintly detected in cell-cell contact in corneal epithelium, but travoprost or EGF increased E-cadherin immunoreactivity in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells.
Conclusions:
Travoprost accelerates EGF expression in corneal epithelial cells and affects E-cadherin localization and cell proliferation. Further study is needed to examine if these effects of travoprost are involved in its toxic effects on corneal epithelium.