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Upregulation of TGF-ß–Induced Tissue Transglutaminase Expression by PI3K-Akt Pathway Activation in Human Subconjunctival Fibroblasts

¹From the Myunggok Eye Research Institute at Kim’s Eye Hospital, Konyang University College of Medicine, Nonsan, Korea; the ³Department of Ophthalmology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; and the ⁴Cardiovascular Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

PURPOSE. Excessive scarring in subconjunctival tissues after filtering surgery seems to be characterized by aberrant extracellular matrix (ECM) production, and tissue transglutaminase (tTgase) plays an important role in this process. In the present study, the effects of transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß2 on the expression of tTgase, its activity in subconjunctival fibroblasts and whether the effects of TGF-ß are mediated by prosurvival signaling pathways were examined.

METHODS. Primary subconjunctival fibroblasts treated with TGF-ß2 were examined for the expression of tTgase with Western blot analysis. The modulation of extracellular tTgase activity by TGF-ß2 was measured by both the formation of fibronectin polymers and the ECM protein incorporation of fluorescein cadaverine. The expression of tTgase was analyzed by immunofluorescence staining and Western blot analysis of subconjunctival fibroblasts that were transiently transfected with an Akt dominant negative mutant gene or were treated with an Akt inhibitor or tTgase siRNA.

RESULTS. Treatment of subconjunctival fibroblasts with TGF-ß2 caused an increase in activation and expression of tTgase. The effects of TGF-ß stimulation of subconjunctival fibroblasts were twofold, causing both rapid activation of the ERK pathway within minutes of treatment and a more delayed activation of the phosphatidylinositol3-kinase-protein kinase B (PKB)/Akt pathway; however, only Akt activation was necessary for TGF-ß-induced tTgase expression. Transient transfection of subconjunctival fibroblasts with an Akt dominant negative mutant gene, or treatment with an Akt inhibitor (but not with an ERK inhibitor) or tTgase siRNA led to decreased activation and expression of tTgase.

CONCLUSIONS. TGF-ß2 activated the PI3K-Akt pathway, and this activation was essential for the expression and activity of tTgase in subconjunctival fibroblasts. The results indicate a novel biological function of the PI3K-Akt pathway in subconjunctival fibroblasts. Elevated expression and activity of tTgase may play an important role in the pathogenesis of diseases related to wound healing and fibrogenic reactions in subconjunctival fibroblasts.