Abstract: Objective · To investigate the effects of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on the of secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) andthefibrosisinculturedhumanTenonsfibroblast(HTF) in vitro. Methods · HTF cells were obtained Tenons capsule tissues of patients undergoing strabismus surgery. Immunofluorescence was used to identify the HTF cells. HTF cells were cultured with different concentrations of VEGF, and which were divided into four groups, i.e., 0 ng/mL group, 25 ng/mL group, 50 ng/mL group and 100 ng/mL group. The of SPARC, collagen-Ⅰ, and matrix metalloprotein 9 (MMP-9) and the activity of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway were analyzedWestern blotting and real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). The abilities of proliferation and migration of HTF cells were detectedMTS assay and scratch test, respectively. Results · HTF cells were observed and identifiedinverted phase contrast microscope and immunofluorescence. Under the stimulation of VEGF, the of protein and mRNA of SPARC, collagen-I and MMP-9 of HTF cells in other three groups were increased compared with 0 ng/mL group; the phosphorylation activities of ERK pathway were up-regulated, and the proliferation and migration abilities of HTF cells were up-regulated. And the effect was the most obvious in the 50 ng/mL group. Conclusion · VEGF is involved in promoting the fibrosis of HTF cells accompaniedthe up-regulation of the SPARC, which suggests SPARC may become a potential regulatory site.

Key words: human Tenonsfibroblast(HTF), secretedprotein acidic and rich in cysteine(SPARC), vascular endothelialgrowth factor(VEGF), fibrosis