Vitamin E Reduces TGF-beta2-induced Changes in Human Trabecular Meshwork Cells

Aim: To determine the effects of vitamin E on transforming growth factor-beta2 (TGF-beta 2)-induced cellular changes in cultured human trabecular meshwork (TM) cells. Materials and Methods: Human TM cells were pre-treated with different concentrations of vitamin E. Afterwards, cells were exposed to 1.0 ng/ml TGF-beta 2 for 24 h. Expressions of the heat shock protein alpha B-crystallin, the extracellular matrix (ECM) component fibronectin and the ECM-degrading enzyme matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) were examined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses. The cytoskeleton was investigated by phalloidin staining. Results: TGF-beta 2 increased the expressions of alpha B-crystallin and fibronectin and reduced the levels of MMP-2. TGF-beta 2 induced the formation of actin stress fibers and cross-linked actin networks. Pre-treatment with different concentrations of vitamin E reversed the TGF-beta 2-induced cellular changes in cultured human TM cells. Conclusions: TGF-beta 2-mediated changes in human TM cells could be reduced by pre-treatment with vitamin E. Therefore, it may be speculated that increasing the antioxidative capacity may help to lower the incidence of characteristic glaucomatous changes in the TM.