Expresion of Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor (bFGF) and Cell Apoptosis in Human Pterygium Fibroblast (HPF) after the Adminstration of Epigallocathecin-3-Gallate (EGCG) and Mitomycin-C (In Vitro Laboratory Experimental Study)

Pterygium is an ocular disease characterized by the growth of fibrovascular tissue and a wing-shaped fold of conjunctiva on the surface of the cornea. The progression of this disease is primarily influenced by exposure to the ultraviolet (UV) light, which induces the production of growth factors, one of which is basic Fibroblast Growth Factor (bFGF), at the chronic inflammation or DNA damage stages, causing pterygium cell invasion.  Various surgical techniques serve as the main modalities for this disease, including conjunctival flaps, conjunctival autografts, bare sclera, and the use of amniotic membranes. No specific procedure can completely prevent the recurrence of this disease. The recurrence of this disease at the global level and in Indonesia remains high, ranging from 10-80% and 24-89%, consecutively. A combination of pterygium treatment with adjuvant therapy developed from natural ingredients was developed to resolve this problem. One of the natural ingredients is epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), which is the extract of green tea. EGCG is acknowledged to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antifibrotic, and antineoplastic effects. EGCG can moderately attenuate pterygium cell proliferation without significantly affecting conjunctival cells. Therapy using EGCG can be applied in various techniques that effectively meet the EGCG needs in the body and treat eye diseases. So far, there have not been many studies on the effect of EGCG administration on pterygium recurrence. For those reasons, it is necessary to conduct a study regarding the effect of the administration of EGCG on the expression of bFGF and apoptosis in Human Pterygium Fibroblast (HPF) compared to the administration of mitomycin C (MMC), which is the commonly used therapy. It is expected that EGCG administration can serve as the best solution for preventing pterygium recurrence in the future.