The Effects of Genistein on the Proliferation of Subconjunctival Fibroblasts in Rabbit

ABSTRACT

Failure of glaucoma filtering surgery most commonly results from excessive fibrosis and occlusion of the filtration site. Many drugs have been investigated to improve surgical results, but drugs that effectively suppress fibroblast activity with less side effects have not been found yet. Genistein, an isoflavonoid phytoestrogen found in soya bean and other legumes, has been reported as a potent inhibitor of tyrosine kinase and suppresses the receptor activation of many growth factors. In this study, the effect of genistein on the proliferation of subconjunctival fibroblast in rabbits were investigated. Cell proliferation was assayed after bFGF (10ng/ml), TGF-beta1 (10ng/ml), EGF (5ng /ml), PDGF (20ng/ml) in cultured rabbit fibroblasts and the effects of genistein on them were analyzed. Each growth factors stimulated fibroblast proliferation effectively. bFGF, TGF-beta1, EGF and PDGF stimulated cell growth by 183%, 163%, 134%, and 182% after 24 hours, respect- ively, and cell growths were increased up to 72 hours. Genistein 50 micrometer suppressed stimulated fibroblast growth by 36%, 46%, 65% and 43%in bFGF, TGF-beta1, EGF and PDGF stimulated samples 24 hours later respectively. Therefore, we speculate that genistein suppresses the proliferating activity of growth factor-induced fibroblasts in rabbit.