Regulation mechanisms of retinal pigment epithelial cell migration by the TGF-beta superfamily.

Marcia Regina Kimie Higashi Mitsuhiro, Shuichiro Eguchi, Hidetoshi Yamashita

Department of Ophthalmology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. mitsuhiro@uol.com.br

Acta ophthalmologica Scandinavica 2003 Dec

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To investigate the expression of specific receptors, signal transducers and the effect of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) on retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) migration and proliferation. Human RPE cell line D407 was used in all experiments. The effect of TGF-beta on migration and proliferation were studied using a wound healing model and [3H]-thymidine incorporation, respectively. The expression of RNA related to the TGF-beta superfamily receptors and SMAD1-4 were assayed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-CPR). The effects of TGF-beta on the intracellular position of SMAD were studied by immunoperoxidase and immunofluorescence. Transforming growth factor-beta 4 nm and activin A 0.36 nm stimulated RPE migration. There was no effect on proliferation. RNA for TGF-beta receptors types 1 and 2, and SMAD1-4 were detected in RPE culture. Transforming growth factor-beta signal transducer SMAD2 but not SMAD1 moved from the cytoplasm to the nucleus after TGF-beta stimulation. Transforming growth factor-beta can regulate RPE cell migration through specific signal transduction pathways.

Citation

Marcia Regina Kimie Higashi Mitsuhiro, Shuichiro Eguchi, Hidetoshi Yamashita. Regulation mechanisms of retinal pigment epithelial cell migration by the TGF-beta superfamily. Acta ophthalmologica Scandinavica. 2003 Dec;81(6):630-8