Inhibitory Effect of Tranilast on Transforming Growth Factor-Beta-Induced Protein in Granular Corneal Dystrophy Type 2 Corneal Fibroblasts.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To investigate the effects of tranilast, an inhibitor of chemical mediators and fibroblast proliferation, on the expression of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β)-induced protein (TGFBIp) in wild-type (WT) and homozygous (HO) granular corneal dystrophy type 2 corneal fibroblasts.

METHODS:

Cell proliferation and cytotoxicity were measured by Cell Counting Kit-8 and lactate dehydrogenase assay. Western blotting and real-time polymerase chain reaction were used to determine changes in the expression of TGFBIp and TGFBI mRNA. We determined the effects of tranilast on phosphorylated Smad2 (pSmad2) and pSmad3, wound-healing, and expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), type I collagen, and integrins.

RESULTS:

High concentrations of tranilast decreased proliferation of corneal fibroblasts but did not cause elevation of lactate dehydrogenase, except at 1.0 mM tranilast. TGF-β increased the expression of TGFBIp and TGFBI mRNA in WT and HO corneal fibroblasts. Cotreatment of corneal fibroblasts with tranilast and TGF-β reduced the levels of TGFBIp and TGFBI mRNA. In addition, application of tranilast reduced pSmad2 in WT and HO corneal fibroblasts and pSmad3 in HO corneal fibroblasts, both of which were increased initially by TGF-β. Tranilast delayed wound healing and reduced the expression of α-SMA, type I collagen, and some of integrins in WT and HO corneal fibroblasts.

CONCLUSIONS:

Application of tranilast in WT and HO corneal fibroblasts inhibited the expression of TGFBIp by blocking TGF-β signaling. Thus, tranilast may be useful in delaying or preventing the recurrence of corneal opacity in TGFBI-linked corneal dystrophies if clinical studies confirm these findings.

• Authors: Tae-Im Kim, Hun Lee, Hye Kyoung Hong, Kyu Seo Kim, Seung-Il Choi, Yong-Sun Maeng, Eung Kweon Kim
• Journal: Cornea (Cornea) Vol. 34 Issue 8 Pg. 950-8 (Aug 2015) ISSN: 1536-4798 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 26020822 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• ACTA2 protein, human
• Actins
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
• Collagen Type I
• Extracellular Matrix Proteins
• Integrins
• RNA, Messenger
• SMAD2 protein, human
• SMAD3 protein, human
• Smad2 Protein
• Smad3 Protein
• Transforming Growth Factor beta
• ortho-Aminobenzoates
• betaIG-H3 protein
• tranilast

Topics

• Actins (metabolism)
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal (pharmacology)
• Blotting, Western
• Cell Proliferation (drug effects)
• Cells, Cultured
• Collagen Type I (metabolism)
• Corneal Dystrophies, Hereditary (drug therapy, genetics, metabolism)
• Corneal Keratocytes (drug effects, metabolism)
• Extracellular Matrix Proteins (genetics, metabolism)
• Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
• Humans
• Integrins (metabolism)
• Microscopy, Confocal
• Phosphorylation
• RNA, Messenger (genetics)
• Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Smad2 Protein (metabolism)
• Smad3 Protein (metabolism)
• Transforming Growth Factor beta (genetics, metabolism, pharmacology)
• Wound Healing (drug effects, physiology)
• ortho-Aminobenzoates (pharmacology)