Cyclosporine A Downregulates MMP-3 and MMP-13 Expression in Cultured Pterygium Fibroblasts.

PURPOSE: To investigate the regulation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3 and MMP-13 expression over time and in the presence of cyclosporine A (CsA) in primary cultured human pterygium fibroblasts. We also examined the effects of CsA on cultured human pterygium fibroblasts.

METHODS

Primary cultured human pterygium fibroblasts subjected to scratch assays were exposed to 1 and 100 µg/mL of CsA for 3 or 10 minutes. Cells were washed with Dulbecco phosphate-buffered saline, and then incubated with serum-depleted Dulbecco modified Eagle medium/F-12 medium for 48 hours. Expression levels of MMP-3 and MMP-13 proteins and the corresponding mRNA transcripts were determined by western blotting and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assays, respectively.

RESULTS

Migration of cultured pterygium fibroblast cells was suppressed by pretreatment with CsA compared with controls in a time-dependent and dose-dependent manner (3 minutes, 50.6% ± 1.1 in 1 µg/mL, 60.0% ± 1.2 in 100 µg/mL; 10 minutes, 59.8% ± 5.7 in 1 µg/mL, 60.5 ± 2.4 in 100 µg/mL, respectively, P < 0.01). Pretreatment with CsA also reduced the mRNA (P < 0.05) and protein expression levels (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

CsA was actively involved in the migration of pterygium fibroblasts. Cell migration is inhibited in response to CsA through the inhibition of MMP-3 and MMP-13 expression. These findings reveal the therapeutic potential of CsA on pterygium progression. Further studies will be necessary to elucidate the precise intracellular signal mechanism responsible for CsA-induced downregulation of MMPs in pterygium fibroblasts.