Inhibition of α-Smooth Muscle Actin Expression and Migration of Pterygium Fibroblasts by Coculture with Amniotic Mesenchymal Stem Cells. (November 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sha, Xiangyin; Wen, Ye; Liu, Zhiping; Song, Li; Peng, Juan; Xie, Lifei
• Is Part Of: Current eye research. Volume 39:Number 11(2014:Nov.)
• Page Start: 1081
• Page End: 1089
• Publication Date: 2014-11
• Subjects: Ophthalmology -- Periodicals; Eye -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Ophthalmology -- Periodicals; 573.88
• DOI: 10.3109/02713683.2014.900806
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0271-3683

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <italic>Purpose</italic>: Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) of normal conjunctival tissues is a major reason of pterygium generation; α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) is a maker in EMT. In this study, we investigated if human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs) can inhibit α-SMA expression and migration of human pterygium fibroblasts (hPFs) <italic>in vitro</italic>.</p> <p> <italic>Materials and methods</italic>: Coculture of hAMSCs and hPFs was completed by using a Transwell coculture system. The α-SMA expression of hPFs was detected by immunocytochemistry and western blot analysis. The migration ability of hPFs was measured by means of a migration assay. Immunoreactivity for α-SMA was detected in all pterygium fibroblasts examined.</p> <p> <italic>Results</italic>: The expression of α-SMA in cocultured hPFs was significantly lower than in hPFs. Similar result was demonstrated in western blot analysis. In addition, migration assay showed that hAMSCs reduce the migration of hPFs.</p> <p> <italic>Conclusions</italic>: These results suggested that hAMSCs have the potential to inhibit the generation and invasiveness of pterygium <italic>in vitro</italic>.</p> </abstract>