Abstract
Purpose: :
Excessive scarring of the conjunctiva over the scleral flap is a serious problem in ophthalmologic surgery. This may lead to failure of glaucoma filtration surgery. The subconjunctival fibroblasts (SCFs) are responsible for bleb scarring during postoperative healing. Recently, it has been shown that interleukin (IL)-7 & 10 have anti-fibrosis effects by suppressing canonical TGFβ/Smad signaling pathway. Herein, we examined the role of IL-7 & 10 in modulation of production of extracellular matrix (ECM) and cell migration in cultured human SCFs.
Methods: :
To examine the effects of IL-7 & 10 on ECM production, immunolocalization and real time RT-PCR were employed to determine the expression of type I collagen, fibronectin, and -smooth muscle actin (-SMA), and cell migration of human cultured SCFs with or without TGFβ1. Cell migration was examined using an in vitro wound model of monolayer cultures.
Results: :
Both IL-7 & 10 reduced mRNA expressions of Collagen1A2 and CTGF and the ECM production much more markedly in the cells treated with TGFβ1 than that of the control fibroblasts. The immunoreactivities of -SMA and fibronectin were weaker in the presence of IL- 7 & 10 than in the control cells. Both agents also delayed defect closure in the monolayer cell sheets.
Conclusions: :
These findings indicate that IL-7 & 10 are involved in down-regulation of enhanced ECM production by TGFβ1 induction on subconjunctival fibroblasts. The results suggest that administration of IL-7 and/or 10 can be a novel therapeutic strategy in preventing undesirable bleb scar formation during healing following filtration surgery.
Keywords: wound healing • cytokines/chemokines • conjunctiva