AIM: To investigate the effects of pirfenidone(PFD)on the proliferation and transfomring growth factor-β₁(TGF-β₁)expression in vitro culture rat corneal stromal cells.

METHODS: Corneal stromal cells from 8 to 10wk SD rats were isolated, cultured and treated with different concentrations of PFD 0mg/mL(control group), 0.15mg/mL(experimental group Ⅰ), 0.3mg/mL(experimental group Ⅱ), 1mg/mL(experimental group Ⅲ)for 48h. CCK-8 assay was performed to assess cell proliferation, while immunocytochemistry and Western Blot were used to detect the expression of ki-67 and TGF-β₁ expression, respectively.

RESULTS: Compared with control group, PFD significantly inhibited the proliferation in a dose-dependent manner(all P<0.05), so was protein expression of ki-67. PFD significantly down-regulated the expression of TGF-β₁ in a dose-dependent manner(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: Pirfenidone can significantly inhibit the proliferation of rat corneal stromal cell by down regulating TGF-β₁ expression, therefore, it has potential prospect in lightening the corneal wound healing reaction.