Anti-scarring effects of conbercept on human Tenon’s fibroblasts: comparisons with bevacizumab

BACKGROUND: Safely inhibiting the formation of scar in the glaucoma filtration surgery (GFS) has always been an issue for clinical glaucoma doctors. Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents can reduce angiogenesis, and anti-placental growth factor (PIGF) agents can affect reactive gliosis. However, the effect of conbercept, which can bind to both VEGF and PIGF, on human Tenon’s fibroblasts (HTFs) is unknown. METHODS: HTFs were cultured in vitro and treated with conbercept or bevacizumab (BVZ). No drug was added to the control group. The effects of drugs on cell proliferation were assessed using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, and the collagen type I alpha1(Col1A1) mRNA expression level was measured using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). HTF cell migration after drug interventions was evaluated using the scratch wound assay along with the measurement of the expression levels of VEGF and PIGF in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, as well as the detection of the VEGF(R) mRNA expression level in HTFs using qPCR. RESULTS: After the addition of conbercept (0.01, 0.1, and 1 mg/mL) to the cultured HTFs or HUVECs, no significant cytotoxicity was observed compared with the control group, while the cytotoxicity of 2.5 mg/mL BVZ on HTFs was obvious. Conbercept significantly inhibited HTF cell migration and Col1A1 mRNA expression level in HTFs. It was superior to BVZ in inhibiting HTF migration. After the intervention with conbercept, the expression level of PIGF and VEGF in HUVECs significantly decreased; and the inhibitory effect of conbercept on the expression level of VEGF in HUVECs was weaker than that of BVZ. Conbercept was more advantageous than BVZ in inhibiting the expression level of VEGFR-1 mRNA in HTFs. However, its effect in terms of inhibiting the expression level of VEGFR-2 mRNA in HTFs was weaker than that of BVZ. CONCLUSION: The results suggested the low cytotoxicity and significant anti-scarring effect of conbercept in HTF with significant anti-PIGF and inferior anti-VEGF effects compared with BVZ, thus providing a better understanding of the role of conbercept in the GFS wound healing process.