Brimonidine reduces TGF-beta-induced extracellular matrix synthesis in human Tenon's fibroblasts

Session Details

Session Title: Presented Poster Session: Glaucoma

Session Date/Time: Monday 07/09/2015 | 09:30-11:00

Paper Time: 10:50

Venue: Poster Village: Pod 4

First Author: : S.Hong SOUTH KOREA

Co Author(s): :    S. Han   G. Seong           

Abstract Details

Purpose:

Brimonidine is a highly selective α2 adrenergic agonist that has been widely used in anti-glaucoma eyedrops. The aim of this study was to investigate its putative anti-fibrotic role in the fibrosis caused by activated Tenon's fibroblasts.

Setting:

Institute of Vision Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Methods:

Primary cultured human Tenon's fibroblasts were exposed to 2.0 ng/mL of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) for up to 48 hours. In the presence of various concentrations of brimonidine (from 0.0 to 10.0 μM), the expression levels of fibronectin, collagen types I and III, and β-actin were determined by Western immunoblots. The expression of phosphorylated SMAD2/3 (p-SMAD2/3) was then evaluated using immunofluorescence.

Results:

TGF-β1 significantly increased the synthesis of fibronectin and collagens in human Tenon's fibroblasts; however brimonidine treatment distinctly attenuated the TGF-β1-induced production of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. TGF-β1 also changed the cellular morphology to be plump, while brimonidine treatment returned the cells to a spindle shape, similar to control fibroblasts. Regarding p-SMAD2/3, brimonidine treatment did not show any apparent changes in its expression.

Conclusions:

Our data revealed that brimonidine reduces TGF-β-induced ECM synthesis in human Tenon's fibroblasts in vitro. This finding implies that topical administration of brimonidine may be helpful in reducing the fibrosis caused by the long-term use of topical anti-glaucoma medications.

Financial Interest:

NONE