The anti-scarring role of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide on cornea epithelial-stromal injury.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

Cornea epithelial-stromal scarring is related to the differentiation of fibroblasts into opaque myofibroblasts. Our study aims to assess the effectiveness of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) solution as a pre-treatment in minimizing corneal scarring.

METHODS:

Human corneal fibroblasts were cultured in a three-dimensional collagen type I-based hydrogel in an eye-on-a-chip model. Fibroblasts were pre-treated with 2 mg/mL LBP for 24 h, followed by another 24-h incubation with 10 ng/mL transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) to induce relevant physiological events after stromal injury. Intracellular pro-fibrotic proteins, extracellular matrix proteins, and pro-inflammatory cytokines that involved in fibrosis, were assessed using immunocytochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

RESULTS:

Compared to the positive control TGF-β1 group, LBP pre-treated cells had a significantly lower expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin, marker of myofibroblasts, vimentin (p < 0.05), and also extracellular matrix proteins both collagen type II and type III (p < 0.05) that can be found in scar tissues. Moreover, LBP pre-treated cells had a significantly lower secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 (p < 0.05). The cell-laden hydrogel contraction and stiffness showed no significant difference between LBP pre-treatment and control groups. Fibroblasts pretreated with LBP as well had reduced angiogenic factors expression and suppression of undesired proliferation (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION:

Our results showed that LBP reduced both pro-fibrotic proteins and pro-inflammatory cytokines on corneal injury in vitro. We suggest that LBP, as a natural Traditional Chinese Medicine, may potentially be a novel topical pre-treatment option prior to corneal refractive surgeries with an improved prognosis.

• Authors: Ho Lam Wong, Lap Tak Hung, Sum Sum Kwok, Yashan Bu, Yuan Lin, Ho Cheung Shum, Hua Wang, Amy Cheuk Yin Lo, Gary Hin Fai Yam, Vishal Jhanji, Kendrick Co Shih, Yau Kei Chan
• Journal: Experimental eye research (Exp Eye Res) Vol. 211 Pg. 108747 (10 2021) ISSN: 1096-0007 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 34450184 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• ACTA2 protein, human
• Actins
• Biomarkers
• Cytokines
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal
• Extracellular Matrix Proteins
• Ophthalmic Solutions
• Transforming Growth Factor beta1
• lycium barbarum polysaccharide

Topics

• Actins (metabolism)
• Administration, Ophthalmic
• Biomarkers (metabolism)
• Cicatrix (metabolism, prevention & control)
• Corneal Diseases (metabolism, prevention & control)
• Corneal Keratocytes (drug effects, metabolism)
• Corneal Stroma (drug effects, metabolism)
• Cytokines (metabolism)
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal (therapeutic use)
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
• Epithelium, Corneal (drug effects, metabolism)
• Extracellular Matrix Proteins (metabolism)
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Medicine, Chinese Traditional
• Ophthalmic Solutions
• Transforming Growth Factor beta1 (pharmacology)