title: Lithium chloride inhibits TGF-β1-induced myofibroblast transdifferentiation via PI3K/Akt pathway in cultured fibroblasts from Tenon's capsule of the human eye.
abstract: Excess scarring of the conjunctiva after glaucoma filtration surgery is a major cause of failure. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β is critically involved in post-operative scarring. Lithium inhibits TGF-β-induced gene protein expression in corneal fibroblasts and inhibits TGF-β-induced epithelial mesenchymal transition. Here, we investigated the effects of LiCl on TGF-β1-mediated signaling pathways and on myofibroblast transdifferentiation of human Tenon's capsule fibroblasts (HTFs). LiCl treatment reduced expression of TGF-β1-induced α-SMA expression in HTFs. LiCl also decreased Akt phosphorylation induced by TGF-β1. TGF-β1-induced α-SMA expression was significantly decreased by LY294002 and Akt siRNA indicating that these changes are mediated by the PI3K/Akt pathway. Thus, LiCl induces the suppression of transdifferentiation stimulated by TGF-β1 by the regulation of PI3K/Akt signaling in HTFs.
authors.affiliation: Myunggok Eye Research Institute, Kim's Eye Hospital, Konyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Jee
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Yong Ho
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Sohn
authors.forename: So Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Sun-Ah
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Joon H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002921:Cicatrix; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D018021:Lithium Chloride / Q000378:metabolism*; D058628:Myofibroblasts / Q000502:physiology*; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D058475:Tenon Capsule; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D018021:Lithium Chloride