Soluble CD40L promotes proliferation of orbital fibroblasts and expression of hyaluronan synthase in patients with thyroid associated ophthalmopathy

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effects of soluble CD40L(sCD40L)on proliferation of orbital fibroblasts(OFs)and the expression of three types of hyaluronan synthase(HAS)in vitro,so as to explore the role of sCD40 Lin the pathogenesis of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy(TAO).Methods OFs obtained from 5patients with TAO and 3normal controls were primarily culutred.The effect of different concentrations of sCD40L(6.25,12.5,25,50,100 and 200ng/mL)on proliferation of OFs of different sources were examined by MTS after 48 hexposure.OFs were also cultured with different concentrations of sCD40L(12.5,25,50 and 100ng/mL)for 3,6,12 and 24h,and then the expression levels of HAS1-3mRNA were determined by real-time RT-PCR.Results Treatment with sCD40 Lat concentrations higher than 25ng/mL for 48 h obviously promoted the proliferation of OFs in patients with TAO(P0.05).In contrast,treatment with sCD40 Lonly at concentrations higher than 50ng/mL for 48 hcould promote proliferation of OFs from normal control,and the effect was comparatively weak.HAS3 mRNA expression of OFs in TAO patients was increased after exposed to sCD40L(P0.05),and the increase was in a concentration-and time-dependent manner.Conclusion sCD40 Lcan promote the proliferation of OFs and expression of HAS3 mRNA in patients with TAO,which implies that sCD40 Lplays an important role in the pathogenesis of TAO.