Epidermal Growth Factor Synergism with TGF-β1 via PI-3 Kinase Activity in Corneal Keratocyte Differentiation
Open Access
- 1 July 2008
- journal article
- cornea
- Published by Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) in Investigative Opthalmology & Visual Science
- Vol. 49 (7), 2936-2945
- https://doi.org/10.1167/iovs.07-0900
Abstract
Purpose. To investigate the action of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on corneal keratocyte differentiation and its effects in conjunction with transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1. methods. Rabbit corneal keratocytes (RCKs) were treated with EGF, TGF-β1, or EGF plus TGF-β1 in the presence or absence of inhibitors of EGF-receptor (EGF-R), neutralizing concentrations of EGF antibody and of signaling kinases for 2 days to 1 week. RCK differentiation to myofibroblasts was identified with anti-aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH)-1 and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) antibodies. Cell proliferation was evaluated with anti-Ki-67 antibody. Extracellular matrix (ECM) components were assayed by immunochemistry and Western blot. Cell migration images were captured with a camera attached to the microscope, and the area of the wound was calculated using imaging software. results. RCKs cultured in serum-free DMEM/F12 without frequent changes of medium maintained the phenotype for more than 1 month. EGF stimulated differentiation into a proto-myofibroblast phenotype with the loss of dendritic shape and the expression of α-SMA. Treatment with TGF-β1 stimulated 12% of the cells to differentiate to defined myofibroblasts, but in the presence of EGF, TGF-β1 induced 90% of RCKs to transform into myofibroblasts. Inhibition of EGF-R activation and of the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI-3K)/Akt-1 pathway prevented the action of EGF on TGF-β1 cell differentiation. TGF-β1 in the presence of EGF also increased cell migration, which is inhibited by blocking EGF-R activation. conclusions. These data show that EGF contributes to the differentiation and migration of myofibroblasts induced by TGF-β1 through EGF-R activation and that it is an important modulator of wound healing and scar tissue formation.Keywords
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