We aimed to investigate the in vitro effect of
pirfenidone (PFD) on proliferation, migration and
collagen contraction of human
pterygium fibroblasts (HPFs). HPFs were obtained from tissue explants during
pterygium surgery.
After treatment with
pirfenidone, the HPFs proliferation was measured by MTT, cell cycle progression measured by flow cytometry, cell migration measured by the scratch assay, and cell contractility evaluated in fibroblast-populated
collagen gels. The expression of TGF-β1, TGF-β2, MMP-1 and
TIMP-1 were also determined with quantitative PCR, western blot and immunofluorescence staining. Results showed
pirfenidone markedly inhibited HPFs proliferation with an IC50 of approximately 0.2 mg/ml.
After treatment with 0.2 mg/ml
pirfenidone for 24 hours, HPFs were at G0/G1 cell cycle arrest, with significantly reduced cell migration capability and
collagen contraction, decreased
mRNA and
protein expressions of TGF-β1, TGF-β2 and MMP-1, and no alterations of
TIMP-1 expression. Thus, we have concluded that
pirfenidone at 0.2 mg/ml inhibits proliferation, migration, and
collagen contraction of HPFs, which is associated with decreased expression of TGF-β and MMP-1, and
pirfenidone might represent a potentially therapeutic agent to prevent the recurrence of
pterygium after surgery.