Conclusions
Sakuraso-saponin could be more effective than MMC for the reduction of fibrosis in HPFs. Our results might present the basis for its use as a promising candidate drug for adjuvant therapy to prevent recurrent pterygium after surgery.
Methods
Samples of HPFs and HTFs were acquired during primary pterygium surgery. Cell toxicity, cell migration, and expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) were evaluated in HPFs and HTFs after treatment with sakuraso-saponin and MMC. To determine the possible mechanisms underlying the antifibrotic effects of sakuraso-saponin, the expression of phosphorylated Smad2/3 was evaluated after treatment with sakuraso-saponin and MMC.
Purpose
To investigate the antifibrotic effects of sakuraso-saponin on a primary culture of human pterygium fibroblasts (HPFs) and normal human Tenon fibroblasts (HTFs) as compared to the effects of mitomycin C (MMC).
Results
MMC (≥200 μg/mL) significantly reduced cell viability in both HPFs and HTFs, whereas sakuraso-saponin (1.0 μg/mL) decreased cell viability in HPFs only. Both sakuraso-saponin (1.0 μg/mL) and MMC (200 μg/mL) treatment significantly reduced the expression of α-SMA and TGF-β in HPFs (P < 0.05). It is interesting that the expression of α-SMA and TGF-β after treatment with sakuraso-saponin was significantly lower than that after treatment with MMC (P < 0.05). The expression of phosphorylated Smad2/3 protein was decreased by sakuraso-saponin and MMC in HPFs. Both sakuraso-saponin and MMC inhibited TGF-β1-induced cell migration as compared to the control in HPFs. Conclusions: Sakuraso-saponin could be more effective than MMC for the reduction of fibrosis in HPFs. Our results might present the basis for its use as a promising candidate drug for adjuvant therapy to prevent recurrent pterygium after surgery.