Effect of Topical Application of Dexamethasone on CC Chemokine Receptor 3 Expression in Human Pterygium

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of preoperative topical demethasone on CC chemokine receptor 3 (CCR3) expression in human pterygium. Methods: Forty cases of patients with pterygium were divided into a dexamethasone group and a control group, which were treated topically with 3 g/L tobramycin + dexamethasone or 3 g/L tobramycin eye drops in the surgical eyes 2 weeks before surgery. Pterygium samples were collected from the subjects after pterygium excision surgery and processed for real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot to examine CCR3 expression. The effects of CCR3 signaling on tube-forming properties and proliferation of human retinal vascular endothelial cells (HRECs) were investigated in vitro using a Matrigel assay and a cell counting kit (CCK)-8 assay. The effects of CCR3 signaling on the proliferation and migration of human keloid fibroblasts (HKFs) were investigated using the CCK-8 assay and wound-healing assay. Results: CCR3 mRNA and protein were detected in pterygium. CCR3 expression levels were reduced in the dexamethasone group compared with the control group (P < 0.05). CCR3 expression levels were associated with basic fibroblast growth factor and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression levels in pterygium. In vitro experiments showed that CCR3 signaling increased the number of intact capillary tubes and promoted the proliferation of HRECs. In addition, CCR3 signaling increased the proliferation and migration of HKFs. Conclusions: CCR3 signaling may play an important role in the pathogenesis of pterygium. The proangiogenic and profibrotic functions of CCR3 signaling may be by promoting tube formation and proliferation of vascular endothelial cells and promoting proliferation and migration of fibroblasts.