목적: 전환성장인자-베타 억제제(TGF-β inhibitor)를 이용하여 각막열상 후 치유 과정에 대한 영향 및 각막혼탁 형성의 억제효과를 확인하고자 하였다. 대상과 방법: 대조군과 실험군 I, II, III으로 백서 10마리(20안)씩 무작위로 분류하여 각막에 수직열상을 형성한 후 각각 10, 25, 50 μg 용량의 전환성장인자-베타 억제제를 투여하였다. 세극등현미경 검사를 시행하여 각막혼탁 정도를 비교하였고, 조직 검사를 통해 기질세포수 측정 및 재생된 교원 섬유의 배열양상을 비교 관찰하였으며, 면역화학염색법을 시행하여 fibronectin과 알파 평활근 액틴(α-smooth muscle actin) 발현 정도를 비교하였다. 결과: 50 μg 농도의 전환성장인자-베타 억제제를 투여한 실험군 III에서 혼탁이 적게 관찰되었고 재생된 교원섬유 배열이 비교적 규칙적이었다. 전환성장인자-베타 억제제의 농도가 높아짐에 따라 각막기질세포수가 감소하는 양상을 보였고 fibronectin과 알파-평활근 액틴에 대한 면역반응이 낮게 발현되었다. 결론: 전환성장인자-베타 억제제를 사용함으로써 각막열상 후 창상 치유 과정에서 각막혼탁의 발생을 줄이는 효과가 있음을 확인하였다.

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of TGF-β inhibitor on the wound healing process after corneal laceration, and its inhibitory effect on corneal scar formation. Methods: Forty Lewis rats were randomly divided into one control and three experimental groups (groups I, II, and III). After partial-thickness vertical linear corneal incision, a diluted solution with 10, 25, and 50 μg of TGF-β inhibitor was instilled into each eye of groups I, II, and III respectively. Corneal haze was measured by using slit-lamp biomicroscopic examination. Using histopathologic examination, we compared the number of stromal keratocytes and the arrangement of regenerated collagen fibers. We also performed immunohistochemistry to confirm the differential expression of fibronectin and α-smooth muscle actin in each group. Results: Group III showed less corneal haze and more regular arrangement of regenerated collagen fibers than the other groups. The number of stromal keratocytes and immunoreactivity to fibronectin and α-smooth muscle actin decreased as the dose of TGF-β inhibitor increased. Conclusions: TGF-β inhibitor effectively reduced corneal haze during corneal healing processes after corneal laceration.

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of TGF-β inhibitor on the wound healing process after corneal laceration, and its inhibitory effect on corneal scar formation. Methods: Forty Lewis rats were randomly divided into one control and three experimental groups (groups I, II, and III). After partial-thickness vertical linear corneal incision, a diluted solution with 10, 25, and 50 μg of TGF-β inhibitor was instilled into each eye of groups I, II, and III respectively. Corneal haze was measured by using slit-lamp biomicroscopic examination. Using histopathologic examination, we compared the number of stromal keratocytes and the arrangement of regenerated collagen fibers. We also performed immunohistochemistry to confirm the differential expression of fibronectin and α-smooth muscle actin in each group. Results: Group III showed less corneal haze and more regular arrangement of regenerated collagen fibers than the other groups. The number of stromal keratocytes and immunoreactivity to fibronectin and α-smooth muscle actin decreased as the dose of TGF-β inhibitor increased. Conclusions: TGF-β inhibitor effectively reduced corneal haze during corneal healing processes after corneal laceration.