PMID: 9538875Apr 16, 1998Paper

Transforming growth factor-beta 1 promotes contraction of collagen gel by bovine corneal fibroblasts through differentiation of myofibroblasts

Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science
H KurosakaY Tanaka

Abstract

To determine whether the ability of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) to influence the contractile activity of corneal fibroblasts depends on their differentiation into myofibroblasts. Bovine corneal fibroblasts were cultured on collagen gel in MED 5 medium (F-12 nutrient mixture supplemented with 5% fetal bovine serum) with or without TGF-beta 1 (0.01-10 ng/ml). To evaluate the corneal fibroblast-derived contraction of collagen gel, the thickness of the gel was measured daily for 6 days. The total number of cells on the gel was counted with a Coulter counter. The detection of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA); a marker for myofibroblasts, on these cells was performed immunocytochemically by using a mouse monoclonal antibody against alpha-SMA. The number of myofibroblasts (alpha-SMA-positive cells) was determined. The control gels containing bovine corneal fibroblasts that were cultured with the MED 5 medium alone significantly contracted to 72.3 +/- 1.2% of their original thickness after 6 days. TGF-beta 1 increased the contraction of collagen gel mediated by bovine corneal fibroblasts in a dose-dependent manner. Approximately 0.2% of the cells on the control gels cultured with MED 5 medium alone were alpha-SMA po...Continue Reading

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