Continuous exposure of nicotine and cotinine retards human primary pterygium cell proliferation and migration |
| |
Authors: | Qichen Yang MSc Vishal Jhanji MD Sze Qin Tan BSc Kwok Ping Chan BSc Di Cao PhD Wai Kit Chu DPhil Mingzhi Zhang MD Chi Pui Pang DPhil Tsz Kin Ng PhD |
| |
Institution: | 1. Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong;2. Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong;3. Joint Shantou International Eye Center of Shantou University and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shantou, Guangdong, China;4. Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Joint Shantou International Eye Center of Shantou University and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shantou, Guangdong, China |
| |
Abstract: | Pterygium is a triangular-shaped hyperplastic growth, characterized by conjunctivalization, inflammation, and connective tissue remodeling. Our previous meta-analysis found that cigarette smoking is associated with a reduced risk of pterygium. Yet, the biological effect of cigarette smoke components on pterygium has not been studied. Here we reported the proliferation and migration properties of human primary pterygium cells with continuous exposure to nicotine and cotinine. Human primary pterygium cells predominantly expressed the α5, β1, and γ subunits of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. Continuous exposure to the mixture of 0.15 μM nicotine and 2 μM cotinine retarded pterygium cell proliferation by 16.04% (P = 0.009) and hindered their migration by 11.93% ( P = 0.039), without affecting cell apoptosis. SNAIL and α-smooth muscle actin protein expression was significantly downregulated in pterygium cells treated with 0.15 μM nicotine-2 μM cotinine mixture by 1.33- ( P = 0.036) and 1.31-fold ( P = 0.001), respectively. Besides, the 0.15 μM nicotine-2 μM cotinine mixture also reduced matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 and MMP-9 expressions in pterygium cells by 1.56- ( P = 0.043) and 1.27-fold ( P = 0.012), respectively. In summary, this study revealed that continuous exposure of nicotine and cotinine inhibited human primary pterygium cell proliferation and migration in vitro by reducing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and MMP protein expression, partially explaining the lower incidence of pterygium in cigarette smokers. |
| |
Keywords: | cotinine migration nicotine primary pterygium proliferation |
|
|