Abstract: Objective: To investgate the different activity of human epidermal growth factor （hEGF） and transforming growth factor β2 （TGFβ2） on wound healing in rabbit corneal endothelial cells and the expression of p27Kip1 and Cdk4. Methods: Wound was created in confluent secondary cultured rabbit corneal endothelial cells which was added in different doses of hEGF and/or but 10 ng/ml TGFβ2， no hEGF or TGFβ2 was added in the controls. The wound area was evaluated by computer on 1, 3, 5 and 7 days after wounding, moreover the subcellular localization of cyclin dependent kinase 4 (Cdk4 ) and p27Kip1(p27) were determined by immunofluorescent staining. Results: hEGF enhanced the wound healing and Cdk4 in a dosedependent manner and the responses peaked at 10～40 ng/ml. TGFβ2 inhibited the wound healing and upstreamed p27 in the cultured rabbit corneal endothelial cells. hEGF could be used to cure the wound following 24 hours usage, but TGFβ2 could not; whereas at the same time or 24 hours after adding TGFβ2, hEGF had no effect on the wound. Conclusion: hEGF of certain concentration enhances the wound healing in cultured rabbit cornea endothelial cells and upstreams the expression of Cdk4. Exogenous TGFβ2 inhibits the wound healing in cultured rabbit cornea endothelial cells and upstreams the expression of p27.

Key words: Transforming growth factor beta, Cornea, Epidermal growth factor, Endothelial cell, Rabbits