Effects of exogenous recombinant human bone morphogenic protein-7 on the corneal epithelial mesenchymal transition and fibrosis

Journal Title: International Journal of Ophthalmology - Year 2017, Vol 10, Issue 3

Abstract

"AIM: To evaluate the effect of exogenous recombinant human bone morphogenic protein-7 (rhBMP-7) on transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)-induced epithelial mesenchymal cell transition (EMT) and assessed its antifibrotic effect via topical application. METHODS: The cytotoxic effect of rhBMP-7 was evaluated and the EMT of human corneal epithelial cells (HECEs) was induced by TGF-β. HECEs were then cultured in the presence of rhBMP-7 and/or hyaluronic acid (HA). EMT markers, fibronectin, E-cadherin, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and matrix metaloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), were evaluated. The level of corneal fibrosis and the reepithelization rate were evaluated using a rabbit keratectomy model. Expression of α-SMA in keratocytes were quantified following treatment with different concentrations of rhBMP-7. RESULTS: Treatment with rhBMP-7 attenuated TGF-β-induced EMT in HECEs. It significantly attenuated fibronectin secretion (31.6%; P<0.05), the α-SMA protein level (72.2%; P<0.01), and MMP-9 expression (23.6%, P<0.05) in HECEs compared with cells grown in the presence of TGF-β alone. E-cadherin expression was significantly enhanced (289.7%; P<0.01) in the presence of rhBMP-7. Topical application of rhBMP-7 combined with 0.1% HA significantly reduced the amount of α-SMA+ cells by 43.18% (P<0.05) at a concentration of 2.5 µg/mL and by 47.73% (P<0.05) at 25 µg/mL, compared with the control group, without disturbing corneal reepithelization. CONCLUSION: rhBMP-7 attenuates TGF-β-induced EMT in vitro, and topical application of rhBMP-7 reduces keratocyte myodifferentiation during the early wound healing stages in vivo without hindering reepithelization. Topical rhBMP-7 application as biological eye drops seems to be feasible in diseases involving TGF-β-related corneal fibrosis with corneal reepithelization disorders."

Authors and Affiliations

Sung Jin Lee

Keywords

Related Articles

Effect of even and odd-order aberrations on the accommodation response

"AIM: To investigate the potential effect that odd and even-order monochromatic aberrations may have on the accommodation response of the human eye. METHODS: Eight healthy subjects with astigmatism below 1 D, best correc...

MnSOD Val16Ala polymorphism associated with retinopathy risk in diabetes: a PRISMA-compliant Meta-analysis of case-control studies

"AIM: To investigate the association of Manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) Val16Ala polymorphism with diabetic retinopathy (DR). METHODS: PubMed, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang databases...

Aberrant expression of genes and proteins in pterygium and their implications in the pathogenesis

Pterygium is a common ocular surface disease induced by a variety of factors. The exact pathogenesis of pterygium remains unclear. Numbers of genes and proteins are discovered in pterygium and they function differently i...

Ex-PRESS implantation with phacoemulsification in POAG versus CPACG

"AIM: To compare the long-term outcomes of the Ex-PRESS miniature glaucoma device implanted under a scleral flap in combination of phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation in primary open angle glaucoma (PO...

A Chinese family with Axenfeld-Rieger syndrome: report of the clinical and genetic findings

"AIM: To describe a Chinese family affected by a severe form of Axenfeld-Rieger syndrome (ARS) and characterize the molecular defect in PITX2 in the family. METHODS: Patients presented with typical ARS from a Chinese fam...

Download PDF file
  • EP ID EP610039
  • DOI 10.18240/ijo.2017.03.01
  • Views 42
  • Downloads 0

How To Cite

Sung Jin Lee (2017). Effects of exogenous recombinant human bone morphogenic protein-7 on the corneal epithelial mesenchymal transition and fibrosis. International Journal of Ophthalmology, 10(3), -. https://europub.co.uk/articles/-A-610039