Matrix metalloproteinases and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases of fibrous humans lens capsules with intraocular lenses.
OBJECTIVE
We located immunohistochemically the matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) -1, -2, -3 and -9 and the tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMP) -1 and -2 in the fibrous capsule of patients with intraocular lenses (IOLs).


METHODS
During vitreoretinal surgery in 10 patients we obtained post-cataract surgery lens capsules with or without an IOL. The mean interval between the previous cataract operation and the extraction of the specimens was 35.2 months (range: 2-120 months). Circular sections of the anterior capsule with lens epithelial cells (LECs) were also obtained during cataract surgery. Specimens were processed for immunohistochemical identification of MMPs and TIMPs by light microscopy.


RESULTS
While all the members of MMPs and TIMPs were not detected in the normal anterior capsules, they were detected in the ECM and/or LECs on the lens capsules extracted within 18 months after IOL implantations in all of the 4 patients, but were not observed in specimens obtained 18 months or longer postoperatively. In LECs of 1 capsule specimen 10 years postoperatively, MMP-1, but not other MMPs and TIMPs, was detected.


CONCLUSIONS
MMPs and TIMPs were detected in the ECM and/or LECs on post-cataract surgery capsules. These proteins may be remodeling the newly deposited ECM and regulating LEC behavior on residual lens capsules in the early phase of healing after cataract surgery.
Kawashima
Y
Y
Department of Ophthalmology, Wakayama Medical College, Wakayama, Japan.
Saika
S
S
Miyamoto
T
T
Yamanaka
O
O
Okada
Y
Y
Tanaka
S
S
Ohnishi
Y
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D020878:Device Removal; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000201:enzymology; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007903:Lens Capsule, Crystalline / Q000201:enzymology*; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D014945:Wound Healing
D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases