Abstract
Purpose :
Corticosteroids are efficient anti-inflammation treatments. However, there are still arguments on whether it should be used in keratitis. This study was to observe the effect of corticosteroids on keratocytes both in normal condition and inflammation status in vitro.
Methods :
Rat keratocytes were cultured and used for examination. 10 μg/ml lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to establish the inflammatory keratocyte cell model, and prednisolone acetate (PA), dexamethasone (Dex) and fluorometholone (Flu) were used as corticosteroids treatments. 5 d-growth curve and cell viabilities were assayed by CCK8, and cell morphologies and migration rate were studied. TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β levels were examined by ELISA. Western blotting was used to quantified type VI collagen (Col VI) and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) expressions, and immunofluorescence staining assays of Col I and Col VI were carried out.
Results :
In normal condition, proliferation and migration of keratocytes were slightly influenced in PA, Dex and Flu groups. The synthesis of Col I and Col VI was suppressed and MMP9 expression increased in corticosteroid groups. But no significant difference was seen in TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β expression levels. In inflammatory status, TNF-α, IL-6 and MMP9 levels increased in LPS group, while they significantly decreased in corticosteroids groups. Although keratocytes viabilities and migration were slightly affected in 24 h, no significant differences were seen between LPS group and corticosteroid groups in 5-d proliferation. Col I and Col VI synthesis in LPS-keratocytes was maintained with corticosteroids treatments.
Conclusions :
Corticosteroids showed lightly effects on keratocytes proliferation and migration, but it successfully decreased TNF-α, IL-6 level and maintained the synthesis of and Col I and Col VI via suppressed the expression of MMP9 in LPS-induced keratocytes. And PA was suggested to use in early stage of keratitis clinical treatment.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2017 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Baltimore, MD, May 7-11, 2017.