title: Transforming growth factor-beta-regulated gene transcription and protein expression in human GFAP-negative lamina cribrosa cells.
abstract: Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is a progressive optic neuropathy, which is a major cause of worldwide visual impairment and blindness. Pathological hallmarks of the glaucomatous optic nerve head (ONH) include retinal ganglion cell axon loss and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling of the lamina cribrosa layer. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is an important pro-fibrotic modulator of ECM metabolism, whose levels are elevated in human POAG lamina cribrosa tissue compared with non-glaucomatous controls. We hypothesize that in POAG, lamina cribrosa (LC) glial cells respond to elevated TGF-beta, producing a remodeled ONH ECM. Using Affymetrix microarrays, we report the first study examining the effect of TGF-beta1 on global gene expression profiles in glial fibrillary acidic acid (GFAP)-negative LC glial cells in vitro. Prominent among the differentially expressed genes were those with established fibrogenic potential, including CTGF, collagen I, elastin, thrombospondin, decorin, biglycan, and fibromodulin. Independent TaqMan and Sybr Green quantitative PCR analysis significantly validated genes involved in regulation of cell proliferation (platelet-derived growth factor [PDGF-alpha]), angiogenesis (vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF]), ECM accumulation and degradation (CTGF, IL-11, and ADAMT-S5), and growth factor binding (ESM-1). Bioinformatic analysis of the ESM-1 promoter identified putative Smad and Runx transcription factor binding sites, and luciferase assays confirmed that TGF-beta1 drives transcription of the ESM-1 gene. TGF-beta1 induces expression and release of ECM components in LC cells, which may be important in regulating matrix remodeling in the lamina cribrosa. In disease states such as POAG, the LC cell may represent an important pro-fibrotic cell type and an attractive target for novel therapeutic strategies.
authors.affiliation: Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Ireland. ruaidhri.kirwan@ucd.ie
authors.forename: Ruaidhrí P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Kirwan
authors.forename: Martin O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Leonard
authors.forename: Madeline
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Abbot F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Colm J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: O'Brien
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism*; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D050436:Regulatory Elements, Transcriptional / Q000235:genetics; D015533:Transcriptional Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D006133:Growth Substances; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta