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Abstract #6557 Published in IGR 3-2
Specific features of apoptosis in human lens epithelial cells induced by mitomycin C in vitro
Jordan JF; Kociok N; Grisanti S; Jacobi PC; Esser JM; Luther TT; Krieglstein GK; Esser PGraefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology 2001; 239: 613-618
BACKGROUND: Posterior capsule opacification (PCO) is still one of the major complications following modern cataract surgery. Several attempts have been made to find an appropriate therapeutic concept to significantly lower the rate of PCO. Here, the authors wanted to focus on the antimetabolic strategy, reducing PCO by using mitomycin C, further characterizing the pathway of apoptosis in human lens epithelial cells (hLECs). METHODS hLECs were obtained from anterior lens capsules during cataract surgery. The expression of Fas, TRAMP, TRAIL-R1-R4, apo-3L and TRAIL mRNA was investigated by means of RT-PCR using specific primers. For investigations on bel-2, bax, p53 and the active form of caspase 3, cell cultures of hLECs were pretreated with mitomycin C and processed for immunocytochemistry thereafter. RESULTS: The authors detected the expression of the receptors Fas, TRAMP, TRAIL-R2 and TRAIL-R3 in hLECs. They further obtained evidence of the upregulation of the intracellular apoptotic signalling cascade, represented by bel-2 and bax, the transcription factor p53, and the active form of caspase 3, after pretreatment with mitomycin C. CONCLUSIONS: The authors demonstrated the presence of the apoptosis-receptor system in hLECs. Furthermore, they demonstrated the possibility of the induction of key proteins of the apoptotic signalling cascade in these cells by the antimetabolic drug mitomycin C. This could have important implications on the strategies regarding both the prevention and treatment of PCO after cataract surgery.
Dr J.F. Jordan, University Eye Clinic, University of Cologne, Joseph-Sielzmann-Strasse 9, D-50931 Cologne, Germany. j.jordan@uni-koeln.de
Classification:
12.8.10 Woundhealing antifibrosis (Part of: 12 Surgical treatment > 12.8 Filtering surgery)
