Abstract:AIM: To study the expressions of TGFBI and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 alpha(LC3)in granular corneal dystrophy, and the influences of lithium chloride(LiCl)on corneal stromal fibroblast cell proliferation by TGFBI.
METHODS: Immunohistochemistry and Western-blot assays were used to detect the expression levels of TGFBI and LC3 in corneal dystrophy and normal corneal tissues. TGFBI overexpression vector was transfected into corneal stromal fibroblasts, and then the cells were treated with 5, 10, 20, 40mmol/L LiCl for different times(0, 1, 6, 12h), and Western-blot assay was performed to evaluate the expression levels of TGFBI and LC3, and CCK-8 assay was carried out to assess cell proliferation activity.
RESULTS: TGFBI and LC3 were highly expressed in corneal tissues of patients with corneal dystrophy. TGFBI overexpression inhibited the proliferation ability of corneal stromal fibroblasts(P<0.05). LiCl inhibited the expression levels of TGFBI and LC3, and enhanced the cell proliferation activity in corneal stromal fibroblasts transfected with mutant TGFBI(P<0.05).
CONCLUSION: LiCl promoted the proliferation and autophagy of corneal stromal fibroblasts, and its mechanism may be related to down regulated expressions of TGFBI and LC3.
