Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1
pubmed:dateCreated
1997-3-14
pubmed:abstractText
The process of corneal wound healing involves the transformation of adjacent corneal keratocytes to myofibroblast-like cells characterized by the development of prominent microfilament bundles containing alpha-smooth muscle-specific actin (alpha-SM), a contractile protein thought to be important in mediating wound contraction. Recent studies have shown that the expression of alpha-SM in cultured corneal keratocytes can be induced by serum and TGF beta 1. To study the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying this transformation process and to begin to identify the role of alpha-SM in wound contractile events, we generated immortalized rabbit corneal cell strains with extended life by using SV40 transfection. Two unique strains were isolated (TRK-36 and TRK-43). TRK-36, which appears similar to normal corneal keratocytes, maintains a stellate, keratocyte morphology when grown in the absence of serum and transforms to a myofibroblast-like cell when treated with TGF beta 1 (1 ng/ml), as indicated by the induced expression of alpha-SM actin. TRK-43 exhibits features characteristic of myofibroblasts in that it constitutively expresses alpha-SM actin under serum-free conditions. Both strains show in vitro contraction of collagen gels < or = 80% in 24 h in serum-containing medium. Interestingly, under serum-free conditions, TRK-43 cells showed significantly greater contraction of collagen gels compared with those of TRK-36. Overall, the establishment and further study of these cell strains may provide important insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying myofibroblast transformation.
pubmed:grant
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jan
pubmed:issn
0277-3740
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
16
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
72-8
pubmed:dateRevised
2007-11-14
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1997
pubmed:articleTitle
Characterization of SV40-transfected cell strains from rabbit keratocytes.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas 75235-9057, USA.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Comparative Study, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S., Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't