Lovastatin Alters TGF-β-Induced Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Porcine Lens Epithelial Cells

Purpose: To determine whether lovastatin affects the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in porcine lens epithelial cells (LECs) induced by transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β).Materials and Methods: Porcine LECs were cultured in Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) for 24 h. The cultured cells were then exposed or not exposed to lovastatin (10 µM) for 18 h and then stimulated with or not stimulated with TGF-β2 (5 ng/ml) for 24 h. The expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), a marker of myofibroblasts, was determined by real-time PCR, and the expression of α-SMA protein was determined by Western blot. The effect of lovastatin on the expression of the mRNA of collagen type 1 (COL1) was determined by real-time PCR. To assess cell contractility, LECs were cultured in collagen gel with or without pretreatment of lovastatin and exposure of TGF-β2. The longest and shortest diameters of the gels were measured and the area was determined.Results: Exposure of LECs to TGF-β2 increased the expression of t...