Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) plays an important role in the formation of cataract and promotes the lens epithelium cells proliferation and diffraction to fibroblast cells, but the signal pathway remains poorly understood. 
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of ERK1/2 signaling pathway in bFGF-induced the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in human lens epithelial cell line HLB-C3.
METHODS: Human lens epithelial cell line HLB-C3 was co-incubated with bFGF (10 μg/L) for 0, 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 hours. RT-PCR technique and western blot were used to detect the expressions of COX-2mRNA and protein at different times. Specific ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059 was added into the culture of HLB-C3 cells in the block examination for 1 hour, followed by bFGF   (10 μg/L) stimulation for 6 hours. Western blot technique was used to detect phosphorylated ERK1/2 expression.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The expression of COX-2mRNA and protein was increased significantly after the bFGF stimulation (P < 0.01); The activity of ERK1/2 was reached a peak at 30 minutes after treatment and decreased to base level at 6 hours (P < 0.01); The expression of COX-2 was down-regulated in the PD98059 group in comparison with that in the bFGF group (P < 0.01). bFGF induces the expression of COX-2 in human lens epithelial cell line. The effects are mediated, at least in part, through the activation of ERK1/2 signaling pathway which plays an important role in the formation of the posterior capsular cataract.