title: Differential regulation of keratinocyte growth factor and hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor by different cytokines in human corneal and limbal fibroblasts.
abstract: Corneal epithelial stem cells and transient amplifying cells are located in the limbal and corneal regions, respectively. In a serum-free medium with or without different cytokines, limbal fibroblasts consistently produced greater levels of keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) transcript and protein than corneal fibroblasts, whereas corneal fibroblasts produced greater levels of hepatocyte growth factor/ scatter factor (HGF/SF) transcript and protein than limbal fibroblasts. Expression of HGF/SF transcript and protein was up-regulated mildly by epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha), or platelet-derived growth factor B (PDGF-BB) but markedly by interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and was more pronounced in limbal than in corneal fibroblasts. Expression of KGF transcript was down-regulated by EGF, TGF-alpha, and PDGF-BB, was markedly up-regulated by IL-1 beta, and was more pronounced in limbal than in corneal fibroblasts. Expression of KGF protein was up-regulated markedly by IL-1 beta and moderately by PDGF-BB, especially in limbal fibroblasts. TGF-beta 1 uniquely turned off transcript and protein expression of HGF/SF and KGF in corneal fibroblasts. Although its transcript levels were similarly down-regulated in limbal fibroblasts, KGF protein levels were paradoxically up-regulated by TGF-beta 1 when added alone or with TGF-alpha or IL-1 beta. These data indicate that KGF and HGF/SF, two fibroblast-derived epithelial mitogens, are expressed differentially by limbal and corneal fibroblasts and are modulated by cytokines activated during epithelial-mesenchymal interactions, suggesting that they may play a different role in modulating corneal epithelial stem cells and transient amplifying cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami, Florida 33101, USA.
authors.forename: D Q
authors.initials: DQ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Tseng
mesh_terms: D000077214:Becaplermin; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003315:Cornea / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D051526:Fibroblast Growth Factor 10; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D051523:Fibroblast Growth Factor 7; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology; D015850:Interleukin-6; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor; D016850:Limbus Corneae / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000494:pharmacology; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D020574:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000494:pharmacology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; C496453:FGF7 protein, human; D051526:Fibroblast Growth Factor 10; D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D006133:Growth Substances; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; C507837:LIF protein, human; D053605:Leukemia Inhibitory Factor; D008222:Lymphokines; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D020574:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D051523:Fibroblast Growth Factor 7; D000077214:Becaplermin; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor