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Yamashiro C, Tokuda K, Kobayashi Y, Higashijima F, Yoshimoto T, Ota M, Ogata T, Ashimori A, Kobayashi M, Hatano M, Uchi SH, Wakuta M, Teranishi S, Kimura K. Benzalkonium chloride-induced myofibroblastic transdifferentiation of Tenon's capsule fibroblasts is inhibited by coculture with corneal epithelial cells or by interleukin-10. Sci Rep 2021; 11:16096. [PMID: 34373467 PMCID: PMC8352883 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-94852-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Benzalkonium chloride (BAC) is used as a preservative in eyedrops but induces subconjunctival fibrosis that can result in failure of glaucoma surgery. Tenon's capsule fibroblasts in subconjunctival tissue interact with the corneal epithelium through tear fluid. With the use of a coculture system, we have now investigated the effect of human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells on myofibroblastic transdifferentiation of human Tenon fibroblasts (HTFs) induced by BAC (5 × 10-6%). Immunofluorescence and immunoblot analyses revealed that the BAC-induced expression of α smooth muscle actin (αSMA) in HTFs was suppressed by coculture of these cells with HCE cells (p < 0.01). The concentration of interleukin-10 (IL-10) in culture supernatants of BAC-treated HTFs was increased by coculture with HCE cells (17.26-fold, vs. coculure, p < 0.001). Immunofluorescence and immunoblot analyses also showed that exogenous IL-10 (300 pg/ml) suppressed the BAC-induced expression of αSMA by 43.65% (p < 0.05) as well as the nuclear translocation of myocardin-related transcription factor-A (MRTF-A) by 39.32% (p < 0.01) in HTFs cultured alone. Our findings suggest that corneal epithelial cells may protect against subconjunctival fibrosis by maintaining IL-10 levels and preventing the MRTF-A-dependent transdifferentiation of HTFs into myofibroblasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiemi Yamashiro
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Tokuda
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
| | - Yuka Kobayashi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
| | - Fumiaki Higashijima
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
| | - Takuya Yoshimoto
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
| | - Manami Ota
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
| | - Tadahiko Ogata
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
| | - Atsushige Ashimori
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
| | - Masaaki Kobayashi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
| | - Makoto Hatano
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
| | - Sho-Hei Uchi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
| | - Makiko Wakuta
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
| | - Shinichiro Teranishi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Kimura
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan.
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Kimura K, Orita T, Morishige N, Nishida T, Sonoda KH. Role of the JNK signaling pathway in downregulation of connexin43 by TNF-α in human corneal fibroblasts. Curr Eye Res 2013; 38:926-32. [PMID: 23768164 DOI: 10.3109/02713683.2013.798419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE/AIM Proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α contribute to corneal inflammation. Corneal stromal fibroblasts are connected to each other via gap junctions. We have now examined the role of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways in TNF-α-induced downregulation of the gap junction protein connexin43 (Cx43) in human corneal fibroblasts. MATERIALS AND METHODS Cultured human corneal fibroblasts were exposed to TNF-α in the absence or presence of inhibitors of MAPK signaling pathways. Expression of Cx43 was evaluated by immunofluorescence and immunoblot analyses. Gap-junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) was measured with a dye-coupling assay. RESULTS TNF-α reduced the abundance of Cx43 in human corneal fibroblasts (as revealed by immunoblot analysis) as well as induced the loss of specific staining for this protein (as revealed by immunofluorescence analysis). These effects of TNF-α were attenuated by an inhibitor of c-Jun NH₂-terminal kinase (JNK inhibitor II) but not by inhibitors of signaling by extracellular signal-regulated kinase (PD98059) or by p38 MAPK (SB203580). JNK inhibitor II also attenuated the inhibitory effect of TNF-α on GJIC. CONCLUSIONS The inhibitory effects of TNF-α on Cx43 expression and GJIC in human corneal fibroblasts are mediated, at least in part, by the JNK signaling pathway, which therefore likely plays a role in corneal inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuhiro Kimura
- Department of Ophthalmology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube City, Yamaguchi, Japan.
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Talbot J, Brion R, Picarda G, Amiaud J, Chesneau J, Bougras G, Stresing V, Tirode F, Heymann D, Redini F, Verrecchia F. Loss of connexin43 expression in Ewing's sarcoma cells favors the development of the primary tumor and the associated bone osteolysis. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2013; 1832:553-64. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2013.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2012] [Revised: 12/13/2012] [Accepted: 01/02/2013] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
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