Lithium chloride inhibits TGF-β1-induced myofibroblast transdifferentiation via PI3K/Akt pathway in cultured fibroblasts from Tenon's capsule of the human eye.

Lithium chloride inhibits TGF-β1-induced myofibroblast transdifferentiation via PI3K/Akt pathway in cultured fibroblasts from Tenon's capsule of the human eye.
Biotechnol Lett. 2014 Feb 22;
Authors: Chung EJ, Sohn YH, Kwon SH, Jung SA, Lee JH
Abstract
Excess scarring of the conjunctiva after glaucoma filtration surgery is a major cause of failure. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β is critically involved in post-operative scarring. Lithium inhibits TGF-β-induced gene protein expression in corneal fibroblasts and inhibits TGF-β-induced epithelial mesenchymal transition. Here, we investigated the effects of LiCl on TGF-β1-mediated signaling pathways and on myofibroblast transdifferentiation of human Tenon's capsule fibroblasts (HTFs). LiCl treatment reduced expression of TGF-β1-induced α-SMA expression in HTFs. LiCl also decreased Akt phosphorylation induced by TGF-β1. TGF-β1-induced α-SMA expression was significantly decreased by LY294002 and Akt siRNA indicating that these changes are mediated by the PI3K/Akt pathway. Thus, LiCl induces the suppression of transdifferentiation stimulated by TGF-β1 by the regulation of PI3K/Akt signaling in HTFs.
PMID: 24563318 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Biotechnology Letters - February 22, 2014 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Chung EJ, Sohn YH, Kwon SH, Jung SA, Lee JH Tags: Biotechnol Lett Source Type: research