[Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in pterygium and effects of selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor on human pterygium fibroblasts].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in pterygium and the effect of selective COX-2 inhibitor (Nimesulide) on proliferation of human pterygium fibroblasts (HPF) in culture.

METHODS

Samples of pterygium and conjunctiva were obtained from patients in the Department of Ophthalmology in Union Hospital of Wuhan. The expression of COX-2 in pterygium was determined by immunohistochemistry. The HPF cells were isolated, cultured and identified. Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 was detected by Western blot in HPF following basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) treatment at different concentrations (1, 10, 100 ng/ml). The MTT method was used to assay the biologic activities of Nimesulide in different doses (0, 25, 50, 100, 200 micromol/L) and different time (24, 48, 72, 96 h).

RESULTS

The positive rate of expression of COX-2 was 70%. The expression of COX-2 became more significantly as dose increased with the stimulation of bFGF. Administration of 50 micromol/L Nimesulide for 24 h could significantly inhibit HPF proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

bFGF can induce the expression of COX-2 in HPF, COX-2 may be one of factors involved in the formation of pterygium. Nimesulide can significantly inhibit HPF proliferation.