각막 상피세포는 정상적인 apoptosis과정을 거쳐 세포가 탈락하고 재생한다. 이러한 apoptosis에는 많은 요소들이 관여하여 세포가 사멸하는데 여러 가지 메커니즘이 관여한다. 본 연구에서는 세포고사 인자로 알려진 물질들을 각막 상피세포에서 apoptosis의 유도 여부를 다른 세포와 비교하여 각막 상피세포의 특성을 알아보고자 시행하였다. 본 연구에 이용된 세포고사 유도물질은 recombinant human cytokiness ($INF{gamma}$, $TNF{alpha}$, FASAb), actinomycin D. camptothecin, cycloheximide, dexamethasone와 etoposide이다. 이들을 세포에 48시간 처리한 후 세포독성을 MTT assay로 측정하였으며 세포고사는 Hoechst 33342 staining. Annexin V-FITC/PI staining 그리고 DePsipher assay를 이용하였다. 세포고사의 한 경로인 FAS-FAS ligand system에 대한 연구는 immunocytochemistry로 Fas protein 발현 여부를 조사하였다. 모든 유도인자는 농도의존적으로 세포고사를 유도하였는데 Actinomycin D. camptothecin와 etoposide는 제조사의 추천 농도보다 낮은 농도에서 세포고사가 유도되었고 반면에 cytokines, cycloheximide, dexamethasone은 더 높은 농도에서 세포고사를 유도하였다. FAS antigen은 대조군과 처리군 모두에서 발현되었으나 세포고사율에 비례하여 높게 발현되었다. 본 연구 결과 각막 상피세포는 RNA synthesis inhibitor와 topoisomerase inhibitors가 intracellular receptor-activators 보다 세포고사에 민감하게 나타나는 세포의 특성을 보였다.
The corneal epithelium is constantly being shed. The mechanism of corneal desquamation is not fully understood. Apoptosis, programmed cell death, may play a role. Apoptosis can be induced by a number of factors and different mechanisms. The study was performed to examine the apoptotic index induced in human corneal epithelial cells maintained in tissue culture by various apoptotic inducers. Various inducers, recombinant human cytokines($INF{gamma}$, $TNF{alpha}$, FASAb), actinomycin D. camptothecin, cycloheximide, dexamethasone and etoposide, were purchased from commercial suppliers. Inducers at manufacturer-recommended concentration were added to the corneal epithelial cells for 48 hours. Cell viability was measured using MTT assay. The cells were then assessed for the level of apoptosis. Morphologic changes and quantification of apoptotic cells were determined and counted under fluorescence microscope after inducers-treated human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells for 48 hours with Hoechst 33342 staining. Annexin V-FITC/PI staining and DePsipher assay. The expression of Fas protein was studied by immunocytochemistry. All inducers induced apoptosis in HCE cells in a dose dependent manner. Actinomycin D. camptothecin and etoposide induced apoptosis at lower than manufacturer-recommended concentration, while cytokines, cycloheximide and dexamethasone induced apoptosis at higher concentrations at the end of 48 hours. All inducers elicited typical apoptotic morphologic changes (chromatin condensation, nucleus fragmentations non-orange-red colored mitochondria) and expresses Fas protein highly. Apoptotic index of HCE cells by these inducers was different from the other cell lines. RNA synthesis inhibitor and topoisomerase inhibitors induced apoptosis at lower concentration than manufacturer-recommended concentration. Cytokines, cycloheximide and dexamethasone were able to produce apoptosis at 10 times higher concentrations. RNA synthesis inhibitor and topoisomerase inhibitors are more sensitive than intracellular receptor-activators in apoptotic induction of HCE cells.
