Expression of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), their receptors, and activins in normal and scarred conjunctiva: role of BMP-6 and activin-A in conjunctival scarring?

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and activins are multifunctional growth factors, which also affect wound healing and tissue fibrosis. To determine their putative role in conjunctival wound healing and scarring, we investigated the expression of various BMPs, BMP receptors, and activins in normal and scarred human conjunctival tissue and in cultured human Tenon's capsule fibroblasts on the mRNA and protein level. Messenger RNA expression of BMP-2, BMP-3, BMP-4, BMP-5, BMP-6, BMP-7, the BMP receptors type I (BMPR-IA, BMPR-IB) and II (BMPR-II), and of activin A and B was investigated by semi-quantitative RT-PCR in normal conjunctival specimens and in scarred filtering blebs as well as in cultured Tenon's capsule fibroblasts obtained from patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), pseudoexfoliation (PEX) glaucoma and cataract. Immunohistochemistry was used to study the protein expression of BMP-2, BMP-4, BMP-6, BMP-7, and activin A in normal and scarred conjunctival tissue as well as in cultured Tenon's capsule fibroblasts. BMP-2, BMP-3, BMP-4, BMP-6, BMP-7, all BMP receptors, and activin A were expressed on the mRNA and protein level in conjunctival biopsies without showing any differences between groups of patients. The mRNA and protein expression of both BMP-6 and activin A was found to be significantly increased in scar tissue compared with normal conjunctiva and could be immunolocalized to epithelial cells, vascular endothelia, stromal fibroblasts, and macrophage-like cells. However, no significant increase in receptor gene expression was observed in scar tissue. With the exception of BMP-7, all growth factors and receptors were also expressed in cultured Tenon's fibroblasts without showing any differences between cultures derived from normal and scarred conjunctival specimens. These findings suggest various BMPs and activin A as components of the conjunctival cytokine meshwork regulating tissue homeostasis and wound healing and provide evidence that alterations in the expression of BMP-6 and activin A, in particular, are associated with conjunctival scarring. Modulation of BMP/activin activities may, therefore, be explored as new approaches for managing postoperative conjunctival scarring responses in glaucoma patients.