PURPOSE: We investigated the effect of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) siRNA on human lens epithelium (HLE) cells and the development of posterior capsular opacity (PCO). METHODS: We designed EGFR siRNA and used it to knockdown the expression of EGFR in HLE cells. Cell proliferation was examined by 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), cell growth curve assay and cell cycle analysis. Next, we selected an adaptable concentration of recombinant epidermal growth factor (EGF) for stimulating the growth of HLE cells to further test the suppressive effect of siRNA. At last, we established the model of PCO in rats to further investigate whether knocking down EGFR would prevent the progression of PCO in vivo. RESULTS: The cell proliferation of EGFR siRNA group was apparently inhibited no matter in short or long term and cell cycle was arrested in G(1) phase. Over expression EGF cannot rescue the inhibition of EGFR siRNA on HLE cells and the proliferation activity in HLE cells greatly decreased when EGF-EGFR signal pathway blockaded. In vivo experiments, the extent of PCO of EGFR siRNA group is much lower than the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that EGFR siRNA can effectively inhibit the progression of PCO. Thus, siRNA targeting EGFR may provide a totally new way for preventing PCO or even cataract. (+info)
Complications, adverse events, and additional intraocular surgery 1 year after cataract surgery in the infant Aphakia Treatment Study.
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The impact of capsulorhexis diameter, localization and shape on posterior capsule opacification.
(5/20)
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of capsulorhexis diameter, localization and shape on posterior capsule opacification (PCO) development after cataract extraction with phacoemulsification. MATERIAL/METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed of 297 patients who underwent phacoemulsification and AcrySof SA60AT implantation. In a first group of 97 patients, 53 received small capsulorhexis (3.9 to 4.9 mm in diameter) and 44 patients received large capsulorhexis (5.0 to 5.9 mm in diameter). Another group of 99 patients was split into subgroups--66 patients whose capsulorhexis were centrally located and 33 patients whose capsulorhexis were paracentral. A third group of 101 patients was split into subgroups--a subgroup of 59 patients were classified as having a regularly rimmed capsulorhexis and a subgroup of 42 patients as having an irregularly rimmed capsulorhexis. At 6 months follow-up, PCO was classified as none, mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the number of quadrants involved. RESULTS: 86.79% of the patients with a small capsulorhexis had no or mild PCO (p<0.001), whereas, 68.18% of the patients with a large capsulorhexis experienced moderate or severe PCO; 89.4% of the patients with a central capsulorhexis had no or mild PCO (p<0.001), whereas, 75.75% of the patients with a paracentral capsulorhexis had moderate or severe PCO; 86.44% of the patients with a regularly rimmed anterior capsulorhexis had no or mild PCO (p<0.001); and 69.04% of the patients with an irregular capsulorhexis rim had moderate or severe PCO. CONCLUSIONS: A small capsulorhexis diameter, its central localization and regular shape result in less PCO following phacoemulsification. (+info)
PURPOSE: Posterior capsular opacification (PCO) is a common long-term complication of modern cataract surgery. Remnant lens epithelial cells (LECs) undergo a myofibroblast transdifferentiation that is thought to be the initial step of PCO pathogenesis. The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of zebularine on transforming growth factor-beta (TGFbeta)-induced, LEC-myofibroblast transdifferentiation. METHODS: The expression levels of methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) and alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) in human PCO membranes were evaluated by confocal microscopy. The role that MeCP2 played in TGFbeta2-induced alpha-SMA expression was analyzed by western blotting both before and after MeCP2 knockdown with MeCP2-specific siRNA. The effect of zebularine on MeCP2 expression was analyzed over time using a variety of dosages. The effect of zebularine on TGFbeta2-induced alpha-SMA expression was determined by western blot analysis. RESULTS: MeCP2 and alpha-SMA co-localized in human PCO membranes. When MeCP2 was depleted, TGFbeta2 could not induce alpha-SMA expression. Zebularine decreased MeCP2 expression in lens epithelial cells in a time- and dose-dependent pattern and reversed TGFbeta2-induced alpha-SMA expression. CONCLUSIONS: MeCP2 plays an important role in TGFbeta2-induced alpha-SMA expression in lens epithelial cells. Zebularine could reverse the TGFbeta2-induced alpha-SMA expression by inhibiting MeCP2 expression. Therefore, zebularine could potentially prevent PCO formation. (+info)
A fully human in vitro capsular bag model to permit intraocular lens evaluation.
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