Scar formation can cause the failure of
glaucoma filtration surgery. We investigated the effect of AR12286, a selective
Rho-associated kinase inhibitor, on myofibroblast transdifferentiation and intraocular pressure assessment in rabbit
glaucoma filtration surgery models. Cell migration and
collagen contraction were used to demonstrate the functionality of AR12286-modulated human conjunctival fibroblasts (HConFs). Polymerase chain reaction quantitative analysis was used to determine the effect of AR12286 on the production of
collagen Type 1A1 and
fibronectin 1. Cell migration and
collagen contraction in HConFs were activated by TGF-β1. However, compared with the control group, rabbit models treated with AR12286 exhibited higher reduction in intraocular pressure after
filtration surgery, and decreased
collagen levels at the
wound site in vivo. Therefore, increased α-SMA expression in HConFs induced by TGF-β1 could be inhibited by AR12286, and the production of Type 1A1
collagen and
fibronectin 1 in TGF-β1-treated HConFs was inhibited by AR12286. Overall, the stimulation of HConFs by TGF-β1 was alleviated by AR12286, and this effect was mediated by the downregulation of TGF-β receptor-related SMAD signaling pathways. In vivo results indicated that AR12286 thus improves the outcome of
filtration surgery as a result of its antifibrotic action in the
bleb tissue because AR12286 inhibited the TGF-β receptor-related signaling pathway, suppressing several downstream reactions in myofibroblast transdifferentiation.