Pirfenidone Attenuates the EMT Process and the Secretion of VEGF in TGF-ß2-Induced ARPE-19 Cells via Inhibiting the Activation of the NF-κB/Snail Signaling Pathway.

Aim: Pirfenidone (PFD), an antifibrotic drug, has various beneficial functions such as antioxidant, antifibrotic, and anti-inflammatory effects. This study aimed to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying how PFD modulates retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells involved in neovascularization and subretinal fibrosis. Methods: ARPE-19 cell lines were treated with transforming growth factor-beta 2 (TGF-ß2) alone or in combination with PFD. RPE cell viability, as a consequence of PFD use, was determined by the CCK-8 assay. Cell migration was assessed by the wound closure assay and quantified by the Image J software. Protein expression of the following markers was measured by the western blot analysis: an epithelial cell marker and E-cadherin; mesenchymal cell markers, fibronectin, matrix metalloprotein-9 (MMP-9), and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA); a fibrotic marker and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF); an angiogenesis marker and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF); NF-κB/Snail. The mRNA levels of fibronectin and α-SMA were determined by quantitative real-time PCR. VEGF was quantitatively measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The cell viability assay revealed that PFD had no significant cytotoxic effect on RPE cells at concentrations of less than 1 mg/mL. The cell scratch assay showed that TGF-ß2 stimulation significantly improved the migration of RPE cells and that PFD attenuated this effect. PFD significantly inhibited the TGF-ß2-induced protein expression of E-cadherin and increased the TGF-ß2-induced protein expression of fibronectin, MMP-9, α-SMA, CTGF, and VEGF in ARPE-19 cells. The mRNA expression of fibronectin and α-SMA was inhibited by PFD in TGF-ß2-inducedARPE-19 cells. Additionally, the increased intracellular and supernatant expression of VEGF protein was suppressed by PFD. Mechanistically, RPE cells treated with PFD + TGF-ß2 exhibited a decrease in phosphorylation of the NF-κB P65 subunit and activation of Snail, compared with the RPE cells treated with TGF-ß2 alone. Conclusion: PFD ameliorated TGF-ß2-induced neovascularization and fibrosis by suppressing the NF-κB/Snail signaling pathway. Therefore, PFD may be a potential drug in the treatment of age-related macular degeneration.

AGTR1 blocker attenuates activation of Tenon's capsule fibroblasts after glaucoma filtration surgery via the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Activation of Tenon's capsule fibroblasts limits the success rate of glaucoma filtration surgery (GFS), the most efficacious therapy for patients with glaucoma. Angiotensin type 1 receptor (AGTR1) is involved in tissues remodeling and fibrogenesis. However, whether AGTR1 is involved in the progress of fibrogenesis after GFS is not fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of an AGTR1 in scar formation after GFS and the potential anti-fibrosis effect of AGTR1 blocker. AGTR1 expression level was increased in subconjunctival tissues in a rat model of GFS and transforming growth factor-beta 2 (TGF-ß2)-induced human Tenon's capsule fibroblasts (HTFs). AGTR1 blocker treatment suppressed TGF-ß2-induced HTF migration and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and fibronectin (FN) expression. AGTR1 blocker treatment also attenuated collagen deposition and α-SMA and FN expression in subconjunctival tissues of the rat model after GFS. Moreover, AGTR1 blocker decreased TGF-ß2-induced P65 phosphorylation, P65 nuclear translocation, and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) luciferase activity. Additionally, BAY 11-7082 (an NF-κB inhibitor) significantly suppressed HTF fibrosis. In conclusion, our results indicate that AGTR1 is involved in scar formation after GFS. The AGTR1 blocker attenuates subconjunctival fibrosis after GFS by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway. These findings indicate that targeting AGTR1 is a potential approach to attenuate fibrosis after GFS.

The activation of Epimedium polysaccharide-propolis flavone liposome on Kupffer cells.

Epimedium polysaccharide-propolis flavone liposome (EPL), a potent immunological pharmaceutical preparation, was investigated for the immunomodulatory activity on Kupffer cells (KCs) in vitro. The results showed that EPL could significantly induce the secretion of chemokines (RANTES and MCP-1), promote the production of nitric oxide and induced nitric oxide synthase, improve the pinocytic and phagocytic activity of KCs, promote the mRNA expression of TNF-α and IL-1ß, and enhance the expression of costimulatory molecules (CD11b and CD68) in KCs compared with Epimedium polysaccharide-propolis flavone (EP) at 30-7.5µg/mL. In addition, the abilities of KCs on stimulating lymphocytes proliferation and antigen presenting were significantly enhanced after stimulated with EPL compared with EP. These results suggested that EPL could activate KCs and possessed the stronger immunomodulatory effect, which provided the theoretical basis for further studying the mechanism of EPL on improving the immune response.