title: Antioxidants reduce TGF-beta2-induced gene expressions in human optic nerve head astrocytes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The goal of the present study was to investigate whether the antioxidants vitamin E, vitamin C and vitamin B1 can reduce the transforming growth factor-beta2 (TGF-β2)-induced gene expressions in cultured human optic nerve head (ONH) astrocytes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cultured human ONH astrocytes were pretreated with different concentrations of vitamin E, vitamin C and vitamin B1 and then exposed to 1.0 ng/ml TGF-β2 for 24 hr. Expression of the heat shock proteins Hsp27 and αB-crystallin, the extracellular matrix (ECM) component fibronectin and the ECM-modulating protein connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) was detected by immunohistochemistry or real-time PCR analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TGF-β2 increased the expression of Hsp27, αB-crystallin, fibronectin and CTGF in human ONH astrocytes. Pretreatment with different concentrations of vitamin E, vitamin C and vitamin B1 reduced the TGF-β2-stimulated gene expressions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In cultured human ONH astrocytes, the TGF-β2-stimulated gene expressions could be reduced by pretreatment with vitamin E, vitamin C and vitamin B1. Therefore, the use of antioxidants in glaucomatous optic neuropathy might be a promising approach to prevent TGF-β2-induced cellular changes in ONH astrocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany. alice.yu@med.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: Alice L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Welge-Lussen
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D055551:HSP27 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D018832:Molecular Chaperones; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000166:cytology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013831:Thiamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D053781:Transforming Growth Factor beta2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology; D038203:alpha-Crystallin B Chain / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; C526317:CCN2 protein, human; D005353:Fibronectins; D055551:HSP27 Heat-Shock Proteins; C057725:HSPB1 protein, human; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D018832:Molecular Chaperones; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D053781:Transforming Growth Factor beta2; D038203:alpha-Crystallin B Chain; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; D014810:Vitamin E; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D013831:Thiamine