title: A consecutive ultrastructural study of action of homoharringtonine on fibroblasts in vitro.
abstract: The authors studied the effect of homoharringtonine (Hh), a semisynthetic Chinese herb, on the ultrastructure of in vitro cultured human conjunctival fibroblasts (HFb) and its mechanism of action. Preliminary results showed that the main characteristics of HFb damage caused by Hh were invagination of the nuclear membrane, aggregation and margination of chromatin, and massive vacuolization of the cytoplasm. In addition, Hh can inhibit the secretion of collagen fibers and the synthesis of microfilaments. Therefore, Hh might be an effective agent in the prevention and treatment of proliferative eye disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: S Q
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: C Z
authors.initials: CZ
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Y S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Z B
authors.initials: ZB
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002449:Cell Aggregation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006248:Harringtonines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000077863:Homoharringtonine; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009685:Nuclear Envelope / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D006248:Harringtonines; D000077863:Homoharringtonine; D003094:Collagen