The regulation of bFGF and TGF-β1 on human scleral fibroblast growth

Objective To study the regulation growth of the basic fibroblast growth factor and transforming growth factor-β on cultured human scleral fibroblasts (HSF) in order to clarify the role of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β) during myopia development. Methods Three healthy donor eyes after corneal transplantation were used to establish fibroblast cell lines. The third or fifth generation cells which grew well in the culture medium was used. Basic-FGF and TGF-β1 were tested for six days by 1 ng/ml, 3 ng/ml, 10 ng/ml, 30 ng/ml, 100 ng/ml, 300 ng/ml of bFGF and 0.1 ng/ml, 0.3 ng/ml, 1 ng/ml, 3 ng/ml, 10 ng/ml, 30 ng/ml of TGF-β. The cells were counted after six days and the t-test was used for statistical analysis. Each strain of cells was examined three times for the regulation of TGF-β1 and bFGF in scleral fibroblast growth. Results Basic-FGF could induce dose-dependent, stimulation the proliferation of HSF. Compared with the blank group, the dose of more than 10 ng/ml bFGF (including 10 ng/ml) was statistically significant increased the proliferation of HSF(P0.05). TGF-β1 could induce dose-dependent, inhibition the proliferation of HSF. Compared with the blank group, the dose of more than 0.3 ng/ml (including 0.3 ng/ml) TGF-β1 was statistically significant (P0.05) inhibited the proliferation of HSF(P0.05). Conclusion The results show that bFGF has an obvious promoted role on cultured human scleral fibroblast growth while TGF-β1 can significantly inhibit the growth. And it confirms the possible role of bFGF and TGF-β in the control of the growth of cells and extracellular matrix synthesis alone or synergistically which involved in the sclera remodeling process during myopia development.