title: Ocular fibroblast diversity: implications for inflammation and ocular wound healing.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Various ocular and orbital tissues differ in their manifestations of inflammation, although the reasons for this are unclear. Such differences may be due to behaviors exhibited by resident cell types, including fibroblasts. Fibroblasts mediate immune function and produce inflammatory mediators. Chronic stimulation of ocular fibroblasts can lead to prolonged inflammation and, in turn, to impaired vision and blindness. Interleukin (IL)-1β, which is produced by various cells during inflammation, is a potent activator of fibroblasts and inducer of the expression of inflammatory mediators. The hypothesis for this study was that that human fibroblasts derived from distinct ocular tissues differ in their responses to IL-1β and that variations in the IL-1 signaling pathway account for these differences.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human fibroblasts were isolated from the lacrimal gland, cornea, and Tenon's capsule and treated with IL-1β in vitro. Cytokine and prostaglandin (PG)E(2) production were measured by ELISA and EIA. Cyclooxygenase (Cox)-2 expression was detected by Western blot. Components of the IL-1 signaling pathway were detected by flow cytometry, ELISA, Western blot, and immunofluorescence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cytokine and PGE(2) production and Cox-2 expression were greatest in corneal fibroblasts. VEGF production was greatest in Tenon's capsule fibroblasts. Variations in IL-1 receptor and receptor antagonist expression, IκBα degradation and p65 nuclear translocation, however, did not account for these differences, but overexpression of the NF-κB member RelB dampened Cox-2 expression in all three fibroblast types.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results highlight the inherent differences between ocular fibroblast strains and provide crucial insight into novel, tissue-specific treatments for ocular inflammation and disease, such as RelB overexpression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642, USA.
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xi
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: McMillan
authors.forename: Geniece M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Lehmann
authors.forename: Patricia J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Sime
authors.forename: Richard T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Libby
authors.forename: Krystel R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Huxlin
authors.forename: Steven E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Feldon
authors.forename: Richard P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Phipps
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003315:Cornea / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D009877:Endophthalmitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D058475:Tenon Capsule / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines