title: Effects of gamma-interferon on keratocyte-induced collagen gel contraction and keratocyte proliferation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Gamma-interferon has been shown to be an effective immunoregulatory polypeptide that can modulate fibroblastic response. We investigated the effects of gamma-interferon on keratocyte proliferation and keratocyte-induced collagen gel contraction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Gamma-interferon in concentrations of 0.01, 1, 100, and 1000 U/ml of media was added to keratocytes embedded in polymerized type I collagen and the gel area was measured after 5 days with an image analysis system. The rate of keratocyte proliferation within and outside the collagen gel under the influence of gamma-interferon was also investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Keratocyte-induced collagen gel contraction was significantly inhibited at all concentrations above 0.01 U/ml. The keratocyte proliferation was not affected by low and moderate concentrations and was significantly stimulated at concentration of 1000 U/ml.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Keratocyte-induced collagen gel contraction is inhibited by gamma-interferon and the mechanism of this effect is not inhibition of keratocyte proliferation by gamma-interferon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Southern California School of Medicine and Doheny Eye Institute, Los Angeles 90033, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pakkar
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rofougaran
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Wee
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Isfahani
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: McDonnell
mesh_terms: D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism*; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D005782:Gels; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D003094:Collagen