[Effect of TGF-beta1 on expression of integrin beta1 following corneal alkali burns in rabbits].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effect of TGF-beta1 applied topically to the alkali-injured rabbit eye on corneal epithelial wound healing and expression of integrin beta1 and its therapeutic action on corneal alkali burns.


METHODS
Alkali burn was produced in 60 corneas from 30 rabbits. Two groups were randomly divided. One group was treated with TGF-beta1 solution (200 ng/ml) topically 3 times one day within the first 7 days, the other group was treated with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solution. The injured eyes were photographed after the fluorescence staining with a digital camera and the pictures were analyzed with computer-aided picture analysis system to calculate the rate of corneal epithelial healing. The expression of integrin beta1 was investigated in the point 6 h, 1 d, 3 d, 7 d, 14 d after the injury by means of immunohistochemical analysis.


RESULTS
On the 4th, 10th, 11th, 12th and 14th days after the burning,the rate of corneal epithelial healing of TGF-beta1 groups was markedly higher than that of the PBS group (P < 0.05). The expression of integrin beta1 in the cornea epithelial cells gradually increased during the wound healing. On the 7th and 14th days after the burning, the expression of integrin beta1 in the cornea epithelial cells of TGF-beta1 group was remarkably higher than that of the PBS group (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
TGF-beta1 could up-regulate integrin beta1 in vivo corneal alkali burn model, which could stimulate the cornea epithelial cells to migrate and adhere to the cornea stroma, that can reduce the cases of the epithelial cells'detachment from the cornea stroma and sustain the corneal reepithelization.
Wang
Feng
F
Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, China. wfoculist@126.com
Sun
Ye
Y
Lu
Yuanyuan
Y
Ma
Weimei
W
D000818:Animals; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000378:metabolism; D005126:Eye Burns / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D019012:Integrin beta1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D011817:Rabbits; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014945:Wound Healing
D019012:Integrin beta1; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1