[Effect of transforming growth factor beta 2 on phagocytosis in cultured bovine trabecular meshwork cells].

AIM: This study was performed to investigate the effect of transforming growth factor beta 2 (TGF-beta 2) on phagocytosis in bovine trabecular meshwork cells in vitro.

METHODS

After cultured bovine trabecular meshwork cells were treated for 24 h with 0 ng/ml (control), 0.32 ng/ml, 1 ng/ml, and 3.2 ng/ml TGF-beta 2, latex beads were added to the incubation medium, and the numbers of latex beads in 20 adjacent cells were then counted under a microscope after treatment with Wright's stain.

RESULTS

The average numbers of latex beads in the trabecular meshwork cells treated with TGF-beta 2 of different concentrations were 53.1+/-1.7 beads/cell, 56.4+/-2.9 beads/cell, and 77.9+/-6.5 beads/cell, respectively, compared to 45.5+/-3.3 beads/cell in the nontreated control group. Thus, TGF-beta 2 significantly increased the numbers of latex beads phagocytosed by cultured bovine trabecular meshwork cells in a dose-dependent manner.

CONCLUSION

TGF-beta 2 can promote the phagocytosis of bovine trabecular meshwork cells in vitro. It may be involved in the reduced cellularity of the trabecular meshwork in patients with primary open angle glaucoma by promoting the phagocytosis of these cells.