Human corneal epithelial cell and fibroblast migration and growth factor secretion after rose bengal photodynamic therapy (RB-PDT) and the effect of conditioned medium.

Purpose: To investigate human corneal epithelial cell and fibroblast migration and growth factor secretion after rose bengal photodynamic therapy (RB-PDT) and the effect of conditioned medium (CM).

Methods: A human corneal epithelial cell line (HCE-T), human corneal fibroblasts (HCF) and keratoconus fibroblasts (KC-HCF) have been used. Twenty-four hours after RB-PDT (0.001% RB concentration, 565 nm wavelength illumination, 0.17 J/cm2 fluence) cell migration rate using scratch assay and growth factor concentrations in the cell culture supernatant using ELISA have been determined. In addition, the effect of CM has been observed.

Results: RB-PDT significantly reduced migration rate in all cell types, compared to controls (p≤0.02). Migration rate of HCE-T cultures without RB-PDT (untreated) was significantly higher using HCF CM after RB-PDT, than using HCF CM without RB-PDT (p<0.01). Similarly, untreated HCF displayed a significantly increased migration rate with HCE-T CM after RB-PDT, compared to HCE-T CM without treatment (p<0.01). Furthermore, illumination alone and RB-PDT significantly decreased keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) concentration in HCF and KC-HCF supernatant, and RB-PDT significantly decreased soluble N-Cadherin (SN-Cad) concentration in HCF supernatant, compared to controls (p<0.01 for all). In HCE-T CM, RB-PDT increased hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (FGFb) concentration (p≤0.02), while decreasing transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) concentration (p<0.01). FGFb concentration increased (p<0.0001) and TGF-β concentration decreased (p<0.0001) in HCF CM, by RB-PDT. Epidermal growth factor (EGF), HGF, and TGF-β concentration decreased (p≤0.03) and FGFb concentration increased (p<0.01) in KC-HCF CM, using RB-PDT.

Conclusions: HCE-T, HCF and KC-HCF migration rate is reduced 24 hours after RB-PDT. In contrast, HCE-T migration is enhanced using HCF CM after RB-PDT, and HCF migration rate is increased through HCE-T CM following RB-PDT. Modulation of EGF, KGF, HGF, FGFb, TGF-β and N-Cadherin secretion through RB-PDT may play an important role in corneal wound healing.