Increased glucose concentration modifies TGF-β1 and NFκB signaling pathways in aniridia limbal fibroblasts, in vitro

To determine the impact of increased glucose concentration on gene expression of primary healthy human limbal fibroblasts (LFCs) and congenital aniridia human limbal fibroblasts (AN-LFCs), in vitro. LFCs (n = 8) and AN-LFCs (n = 8) were isolated and cultured in serum containing DMEM, including either normal glucose (17.5 mM) or increased glucose (70 mM) concentration for 48h or 72h, respectively. mRNA and protein expression of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), alpha-smooth muscle actin (ACTA)2A1, SMAD 2/3, hypoxia markers such as nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1ɑ), oxidative stress markers such as nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and Catalase (CAT) were analyzed using qPCR and Western blot. In 70 mM glucose concentration medium for 48 h, TGF-β1 mRNA expression was significantly lower (p = 0.001, p < 0.001), Nrf2 (p = 0.001, p = 0.001) and CAT (p = 0.001, p = 0.001) mRNA expression was significantly higher in LFCs and AN-LFCs, than using 17.5 mM glucose concentration medium. In addition, in 70 mM glucose concentration medium for 48 h, SMAD 2, SMAD 3, NFκB, HIF-1ɑ mRNA expression was significantly lower in AN-LFCs, than in 17.5 mM glucose concentration medium (p = 0.003, p = 0.002, p = 0.008, p = 0.020). At this time-point in 70 mM glucose concentration medium, at protein level, TGF-β1, SMAD2/3 and NFκB were significantly lower in AN-LFCs, than in 17.5 mM glucose concentration medium (p = 0.041, p = 0.002, p = 0.012). In 70 mM glucose concentration medium for 72h, TGF-β1 was significantly higher (p < 0.001, p < 0.001) and Nrf2 (p = 0.001, p = 0.001) and CAT (p < 0.001, p < 0.001) mRNA were significantly lower in LFCs and AN-LFCs, than in 17.5 mM glucose concentration medium. At this time-point, in 70 mM glucose concentration medium, NFκB mRNA was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in LFCs, than in 17.5 mM glucose concentration DMEM medium. In 70 mM glucose concentration medium for 72 h, TGF-β1 and NFκB protein were significantly lower in AN-LFCs, than in 17.5 mM glucose concentration medium (p < 0.001, p < 0.001). Our study confirmed that high glucose concentration has an impact on TGF-β1 and NFκB signaling both in AN-LFCs and LFCs. These findings highlight that prolonged exposure to high glucose levels may contribute to cellular stress and dysfunction in LFCs and AN-LFCs.