title: [Insulin-like growth factor-1 induced activation and expression of signal transducers and activators of transcription-3 in scleral fibroblast of guinea pigs].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the expression of signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) in sclera fibroblast of guinea pigs for understanding whether STAT3 signaling transduction pathway induced by the insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) was constitutively activated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunocytochemical staining was used to determine the protein levels of STAT3 and P-STAT3 (activated STAT3) in scleral fibroblasts. RT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA of STAT3. The effects of IGF-1 on scleral fibroblast proliferation were measured by MTT assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immunocytochemical staining and RT-PCR revealed that STAT3 protein and mRNA were over-expressed in the cells which contained constitutively activated STAT3 signaling transduction pathway (t=-6.925, -10.179 and 9.363; P<0.001). The results of MTT showed that IGF-1 induced fibroblasts proliferation significantly at concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, 10.0 microg/L (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  STAT3 signaling transduction pathway is constitutively activated in the treated scleral cells by IGF-1, suggesting that STAT3 signaling transduction pathway may play a critical role in the occurrence of myopia and sclera remodeling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China.
authors.forename: Zi-cheng
authors.initials: ZC
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Jin-song
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xue-ying
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Ying-fei
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xiu-juan
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000494:pharmacology*; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D012590:Sclera / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I