Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B as a therapeutic target for Graves' orbitopathy in an in vitro model

Graves' orbitopathy (GO) is characterised in early stages by orbital fibroblast inflammation, which can be aggravated by oxidative stress and often leads to fibrosis. Protein tyrosine protein 1B (PTP1B) is a regulator of inflammation and a therapeutic target in diabetes. We investigated the role of PTP1B in the GO mechanism using orbital fibroblasts from GO and healthy non-GO subjects. After 24 hours of transfection with PTPN1 siRNA, the fibroblasts were exposed to interleukin (IL)-1β, cigarette smoke extract (CSE), H2O2, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β stimulations. Inflammatory cytokines and fibrosis-related proteins were analysed using western blotting and/or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) release was detected using an oxidant-sensitive fluorescent probe. IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, bovine thyroid stimulating hormone (bTSH), high-affinity human stimulatory monoclonal antibody of TSH receptor (M22), and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) significantly increased PTP1B protein production in GO and non-GO fibroblasts. PTPN1 silencing significantly blocked IL-1β-induced inflammatory cytokine production, CSE- and H2O2-induced ROS synthesis, and TGF-β-induced expression of collagen Iα, α-smooth muscle actin (SMA), and fibronectin in GO fibroblasts. Silencing PTPN1 also decreased phosphorylation levels of Akt, p38, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-stress response proteins in GO cells. PTP1B may be a potential therapeutic target of anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-fibrotic treatment of GO.