OBJECTIVE To study the influence and mechanism of gamma-IFN on fibroblasts in hypertrophic scars(HTS). METHODS The cultured fibroblastic cells were isolated from the hypertrophic scars of 10 patients. The fibroblasts were divided into two groups, one group was treated with gamma-IFN (100 U/ml, 5 days) and the other without gamma-IFN as control. The proliferative activity in both groups was investigated and compared by blood cytometer, the proportion of myofibroblast (MFB) and the ratio of apoptosis were examined and analysed between two groups by flow cytometry using alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) as marker. RESULTS The proliferative activity was downregulated with gamma-IFN. In gamma-IFN treated group, the differentiation of MFB were reduced and the decreasing ratio was 3.2% at the 2nd day and up to 10.5% at the 8th day, then it reduced gradually. The apoptosic ratio is 17.7% in gamma-IFN treated group, and is 10.9% in control group. The difference was statistically significant. CONCLUSION gamma-IFN could downregulate the proliferation of fibroblasts, decrease the differentiation of MFB and induce the apoptosis. It has beneficial effect in the treatment of hypertrophic scars(HTS).
Objective To investigate the effects of gamma;-interferon (IFN-gamma; on the expression of costimulatory molecules B7-1 (CD80) and B7-2 (CD86) and Fas/FasL in human retina. Methods Nine human eyes were obtained from the eye-bank of Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center. Six eyes were used for making retinal wholemounts, and 12 retinal wholemounts from each eye were put into the 24-hole culture board which had 2ml DMEM/F12 culture medium in each hole. The wholemounts were divided into 3 groups whose concentration of IFN-gamma; was 0, 200, and 1000 U/ml respectively. After cultured in 37℃ culture box (95%O 2，5%CO 2) for 24 hours, the expressions of B7-1 (CD80), B7-2 (CD86), and Fas/FasL on these retinal wholemounts were detected by immunohistochemical method. The retinal wholemounts from 3 healthy people were detected by immunohistochemical method as the control. Results Expression of FasL but not B7-1, B7-2 or Fas was found in the control group, while the expression of B7-1, B7-2 and Fas and increased expression of FasL were found after cultured with IFN-gamma;. Conclusion IFN-gamma; may be involved in the occurrence of ocular immune response and induction of apoptosis via the stimulation of expression of costimulatory molecules and Fas/FasL, which plays an important role in the activation of T lymphocytes. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2006, 22: 117-119)