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Effects of 4-methylumbelliferone and high molecular weight hyaluronic acid on the inflammation of corneal stromal cells induced by LPS

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Abstract

Purpose

To investigate the effects of hyaluronic acid (HA) on the inflammation of corneal fibroblasts induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Methods

Primary rabbit corneal keratocytes were isolated with collagenase. The keratocytes were cultured in a serum-containing medium to induce corneal fibroblasts, which represented the wound repair phenotype of corneal keratocytes. Corneal fibroblasts were treated with LPS with or without 4-methylumbelliferone (4-MU) / high molecular weight hyaluronic acid (HMWHA). The gene expression was evaluated via real-time PCR, immunofluorescence, and western blot. The release of inflammatory cytokines and HA was determined by ELISA.

Results

Three types of hyaluronan synthase (HAS) were detected in corneal fibroblasts. LPS stimulation caused the up-regulation of HAS1 and HAS2 expression in corneal fibroblasts. LPS-induced HAS2 expression was significantly inhibited by 4-MU, and accompanied by decreased HA release by the corneal fibroblasts. In the corneal fibroblasts, 4-MU reduced the LPS-stimulated up-regulation of inflammatory cytokines including IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, and also attenuated the LPS-induced up-regulation of inflammatory related receptors including TLR2, TLR4, CD44, and CXCR1. HMWHA treatment resulted in a significant decline in the expression of IL-6, IL-8, TLR4, and CXCR1 responded to LPS stimulation. Consistent with mRNA expression of level, the up-regulation of the release of IL-6 and IL-8 induced by LPS in corneal fibroblasts was significantly attenuated by 4-MU and HMWHA. The LPS-induced expression of IL-8 and its receptor CXCR1 at both the mRNA and protein level were significantly attenuated by 4-MU and HMWHA.

Conclusion

The inhibitor of HA synthesis 4-MU, and HMWHA successfully reduced LPS-induced inflammation in corneal fibroblasts. The mechanism might be via the inhibition of LPS-induced TLR4 up-regulation.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81170828), Tianjin Science & Technology Foundation (15JCZDJC35300), Tianjin Health and Family Planning Communication Foundation (14KG133).

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Author notes

    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Nankai University Eye Hospital, Tianjin, 300020, China

      Fang Li, Peng Hao, Ruifang Han, Zhixin Jiang & Xuan Li

    2. Clinical College of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300020, China

      Peng Hao, Ruifang Han, Zhixin Jiang & Xuan Li

    3. Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin Eye Institute, Tianjin Key Lab of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tianjin, 300020, China

      Peng Hao, Ruifang Han, Zhixin Jiang & Xuan Li

    4. Department of Respiratory Medicine, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China

      Guangjie Liu

    5. Department of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Huanhu Hospital, Tianjin, 300350, China

      Weiyi Wang

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    1. Fang Li
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    Correspondence to Xuan Li.

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    Funding

    National Natural Science Foundation of China provided financial support in the form of NSFC 81170828. Tianjin Science & Technology Foundation provided financial support in the form of 15JCZDJC35300. Tianjin Health and Family Planning Communication Foundation provided financial support in the form of 14KG133.

    Conflict of interest

    All authors certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest (such as honoraria; educational grants; participation in speakers’ bureaus; membership, employment, consultancies, stock ownership, or other equity interest; and expert testimony or patent-licensing arrangements), or non-financial interest (such as personal or professional relationships, affiliations, knowledge, or beliefs) in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

    This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals carried out by any of the authors.

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    Fang Li and Peng Hao contributed equally to this work.

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    Li, F., Hao, P., Liu, G. et al. Effects of 4-methylumbelliferone and high molecular weight hyaluronic acid on the inflammation of corneal stromal cells induced by LPS. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 255, 559–566 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-016-3561-1

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    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-016-3561-1

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