DNA methyltransferase inhibitor suppresses fibrogenetic changes in human conjunctival fibroblasts.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to clarify the effects of a DNA methyltransferase inhibitor on fibrogenetic changes in human conjunctival fibroblasts (HConF).

METHODS

HConF were pretreated with the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-dC) for 48 h. After one passage, the cells were treated with 5 ng/ml of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β2 for 48 h, and the expression levels of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), extracellular matrix proteins, and phosphorylated Smad3 were evaluated with western blotting. A fusion construct between the promoter and the luciferase gene was introduced into the HConF after the first passage, and the construct's activity was detected via a luciferase reporter gene assay.

RESULTS

TGF-β2-induced upregulation of α-SMA was suppressed by pretreatment with 5-Aza-dC (0.1, 1.0, and 10 μM) in a dose-dependent manner. Upregulation of type I collagen was also suppressed by 10 μM 5-Aza-dC pretreatment. In contrast, 5-Aza-dC had no inhibitory effect on the expression of fibronectin or phosphorylated Smad3. However, promoter activity was suppressed with 5-Aza-dC pretreatment.

CONCLUSIONS

In HConF, fibrogenetic changes were partly suppressed with a DNA methyltransferase inhibitor, suggesting an indirect inhibitory effect of the inhibitor on the promoter in HConF.