TGF-BETA INDUCED HYALURONAN SYNTHESIS IN ORBITAL FIBROBLASTS INVOLVES PROTEIN KINASE C BETAII ACTIVATION IN VITRO

Graves' ophthalmopathy is accompanied by hyaluronan (HA) accumulation in the orbital space and infiltration of immunocompetent cells and cytokines, including IFN-g, IL-1b, and TGF-b. We examined the signal transduction pathways by which TGF-b induces HA synthesis in normal orbital fibroblasts , orbital fibroblasts from patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy, and abdominal fibroblasts. Calphostin C inhibited the stimulation of HA synthesis by TGF-b. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) activation of PKC stimulated HA production. The effects of TGF-b and PMA were not synergistic. Stimulation by TGF-b and PMA were dependent on protein synthesis and their effects were inhibited by cycloheximide. Since TGF-b- induced HA synthesis was inhibited by BAPTA or by PKC inhibitors, a calcium-dependent PKC was most likely involved. The PKA inhibitor H-89 enhanced TGF-b- and PMA-induced HA synthesis, thus showing that communication between the PKA and PKC pathways was evident. TGF-b stimulated the translocation of PKCbII to the cell membrane. PKCbII, a key enzyme in the regulation of HA synthesis by TGF-b, might be an appropriate target for therapeutic compounds to be used to treat Graves' ophthalmopathy accompanied by inflammation