Human lens epithelial cell culture

Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transdifferentiation in Pediatric Lens Epithelial Cells

Purpose

Posterior capsule opacification (PCO) is a complication after cataract surgery, particularly in children. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of lens epithelial cells, mediated by transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ), contributes to PCO. However, its pathogenesis in children is poorly understood. We correlated cell growth in culture with patient characteristics, studied gene expression of pediatric lens epithelial cells (pLEC), and examined the effects of TGFβ-2 on these cells in vitro.

Methods

Clinical characteristics of children with cataracts correlated with growth behavior of pLEC in vitro. mRNA expression of epithelial (αB-crystallin, connexin-43) and mesenchymal (αV-integrin, α-smooth muscle actin, collagen-Iα2, fibronectin-1) markers was quantified in pLEC and in cell line HLE-B3 in the presence and absence of TGFβ-2.

Results

Fifty-four anterior lens capsules from 40 children aged 1 to 180 months were obtained. Cell outgrowth occurred in 44% of the capsules from patients ≤ 12 months and in 33% of capsules from children aged 13 to 60 months, but in only 6% of capsules from children over 60 months. TGFβ-2 significantly upregulated expression of αB-crystallin (HLE-B3), αV-integrin (HLE-B3), collagen-Iα2, and fibronectin-1 (in pLEC and HLE-B3 cells).

Conclusions

Patient characteristics correlated with growth behavior of pLEC in vitro, paralleling a higher clinical incidence of PCO in younger children. Gene expression profiles of pLEC and HLE-B3 suggest that upregulation of αV-integrin, collagen-Iα2, and fibronectin-1 are involved in EMT.

Sustained-release celecoxib from incubated acrylic intraocular lenses suppresses lens epithelial cell growth in an ex vivo model of posterior capsule opacity

PURPOSE

To determine whether celecoxib (CXB) can be released from incubated intraocular lenses (IOLs) sufficiently to inhibit lens epithelial cell (LEC) growth in an ex vivo model of posterior capsule opacification (PCO).

MATERIALS

LEC growth was evaluated for 14 days in canine lens capsules (LCs) that had been exposed to media containing 20 μM CXB for 1-5 days. After the incubation of hydrophilic and hydrophobic IOLs in CXB solution, the determination of the in vitro release of CXB from the IOLs was performed for up to 28 days. The incubated and nonincubated IOLs were evaluated in the ex vivo model of PCO, and the rate of LEC growth was evaluated over 28 days.

RESULTS

The treatment of LCs with 20 μM CXB for 4 and 5 days completely inhibited LEC growth. LEC repopulation did not occur after the removal of CXB. IOLs incubated in CXB for 24 h resulted in a sustained release of CXB in vitro at levels theoretically sufficient to inhibit PCO. LCs in the ex vivo model of PCO treated with acrylic IOLs incubated in CXB had significantly suppressed LEC ingrowth compared with untreated and IOL-only LCs.

CONCLUSIONS

A 4-day treatment of LCs with a concentration of 20 μM CXB may effectively prevent PCO. IOLs incubated in CXB for 24 h resulted in a sustained release of CXB in vitro at levels sufficient to inhibit LEC growth in the ex vivo model of PCO. Further studies are needed to determine whether CXB-incubated IOLs can effectively prevent the development of PCO in vivo.