Overexpression of ALK5 Induces Human Tenon's Capsule Fibroblasts Transdifferentiation and Fibrosis In Vitro.

Purpose: To investigate the involvement of activin receptor-like kinase 5 (ALK5) in human Tenon's capsule fibroblasts (HTFs) transdifferentiation and fibrosis.

Methods: (1) Cultured HTFs were treated with transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) at different concentrations for different durations, mRNA expression of ALK5 and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) while protein expression of ALK5, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and extracellular matrix deposition including fibronectin (FN) and collagen I (Col1) was assessed by western blot. HTFs with or without TGF-β1 were also treated with an ALK5 activity inhibitor, SB-431542, and fibrosis-related genes were assessed.

Functional characteristics of connective tissue growth factor on human tenon's capsule fibroblast.

Purpose Of The Study: To explore the characteristic of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) on the phenotype transition, extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis and proliferation of human Tenon's capsule fibroblasts (HTFs).

Materials And Methods: HTFs were obtained from patients during cataract surgery and induced by CTGF (1 to 100 µg/L). Western blot and immunofluorescence were performed to observe the expression of alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SM-actin) protein.

Protective effect of pioglitazone on retinal ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats.

Purpose: To investigate the protective effect of pioglitazone on the rat retina after ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and to explore its possible mechanisms.

Methods: Retinal ischemia was induced by increasing the intraocular pressure to 110 mm Hg for 60 minutes, and pioglitazone was delivered 3 hours before the I/R. Retinal damage was quantified by measuring the thickness of the retina, the functional changes of visual evoked potential (VEP) and electroretinography (ERG), and the number of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) at 7 days after I/R injury.

SB-431542 inhibition of scar formation after filtration surgery and its potential mechanism.

Purpose: To explore the inhibitive effect of SB-431542 (an ALK5 inhibitor) on scar formation after glaucoma surgery and to identify the potential pharmacologic target(s).

Methods: Twenty-four New Zealand rabbits underwent filtration surgery on the right eye and were divided into a control group and three experimental groups (n=6). Human Tenon's fibroblast monolayer was scraped to generate a single gap, and then the control medium with SB-431542 only or containing 10 microg/L TGF-beta1 and SB-431542 (1-20 microM) was added.

[Clinical and pathological analysis of 2734 cases of eyelid neoplasms].

Objective: To study the histopathological classification and changes of eyelid neoplasms.

Method: In this retrospective case series, the pathological specimens of 2734 cases with eyelid neoplasms examined between 1993-2005 were claimed and analyzed.

Results: There were 1248 eyelid tumors (45.