Recombinant human heat shock protein 27 can inhibit ultraviolet B‐induced differentiation in pterygial‐derived fibroblast

Abstract

PurposeTo investigate the effect of recombinant human heat shock protein 27 (rhHSP27) on the differentiation of human pterygial‐derived fibroblast.MethodsHuman conjunctival and pterygial fibroblasts were isolated and cultured from specimens of normal conjunctiva and pterygium head, which were donated during pterygium excision. Cultured conjunctival and pterygial fibroblasts were exposed to 20 mJ/cm2 of ultraviolet‐B (UVB) irradiation with and without 4 ug/mL rhHSP27 pre‐treatment. Western blot analyses of α‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA), a marker for myofibroblast, were performed in each group and quantified using Image Gauge 4.0 software. The ratios of α‐SMA / GAPDH and phosphorylated HSP27 / GAPDH were compared.ResultsThe α‐SMA level in Pterygial fibroblasts showed 2.85 ± 0.11 fold greater than that of normal conjunctival fibroblasts (P < 0.001). The level of α‐SMA was increased by 1.92 ± 0.02 times (P < 0.001), when normal conjunctival fibroblasts were exposed to UVB irradiation without rhHSP27 pre‐treatment. However, when normal conjunctival fibroblasts were exposed to UVB irradiation with rhHSP27 pre‐treatment, the fibroblasts demonstrated 0.82 ± 0.04 fold smaller α‐SMA level than control did (P = 0.04).ConclusionsThe rhHSP27 revealed inhibitory effects on the UVB irradiation‐induced differentiation from normal conjunctival fibroblasts to pterygial myofibroblast. The rhHSP27 can be a preventive treatment against pterygium growth.