Abstract
Scar formation can cause the failure of glaucoma filtration surgery. We investigated the effect of AR12286, a selective Rho-associated kinase inhibitor, on myofibroblast transdifferentiation and intraocular pressure assessment in rabbit glaucoma filtration surgery models. Cell migration and collagen contraction were used to demonstrate the functionality of AR12286-modulated human conjunctival fibroblasts (HConFs). Polymerase chain reaction quantitative analysis was used to determine the effect of AR12286 on the production of collagen Type 1A1 and fibronectin 1. Cell migration and collagen contraction in HConFs were activated by TGF-β1. However, compared with the control group, rabbit models treated with AR12286 exhibited higher reduction in intraocular pressure after filtration surgery, and decreased collagen levels at the wound site in vivo. Therefore, increased α-SMA expression in HConFs induced by TGF-β1 could be inhibited by AR12286, and the production of Type 1A1 collagen and fibronectin 1 in TGF-β1-treated HConFs was inhibited by AR12286. Overall, the stimulation of HConFs by TGF-β1 was alleviated by AR12286, and this effect was mediated by the downregulation of TGF-β receptor-related SMAD signaling pathways. In vivo results indicated that AR12286 thus improves the outcome of filtration surgery as a result of its antifibrotic action in the bleb tissue because AR12286 inhibited the TGF-β receptor-related signaling pathway, suppressing several downstream reactions in myofibroblast transdifferentiation.
Highlights
Glaucoma, the second leading cause of blindness after cataracts, results from the imbalanced production and elimination of aqueous humor, and increases intraocular pressure (IOP)
Results revealed that the expression of genes was significantly increased in human conjunctival fibroblasts (HConFs) treated with TGF-β1 (Figure 7) compared with that in the control significantly increased in HConFs treated with TGF-β1 (Figure 7) compared with that in the control group
TGF-β1-induced production of COL1A1 and FN 1 inhibited by AR12286
Summary
The second leading cause of blindness after cataracts, results from the imbalanced production and elimination of aqueous humor, and increases intraocular pressure (IOP). High IOP is not the only factor causing glaucoma, but lowering IOP remains a principal clinical treatment [1]. Trabeculectomy has been the standard surgical treatment for glaucoma since 1960, and it is the most common type of filtration surgery to reduce IOP in glaucoma [3,4]. Molecules 2020, 25, 4422 principally depends on the filtering bleb during the postoperative wound-healing process. Excessive proliferation of fibroblasts or fibrosis in the subconjunctiva during the healing period causes tissue to scar, and leads subsequently to bleb failure [5,6]
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