Infantile aphakic glaucoma: a proposed etiologic role of IL-4 and VEGF.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the factors secreted by lens epithelial cells (LECs) responsible for the altered trabecular meshwork (TM) cells and to compare their effect on monocultured TM cells with that of TM cells co-cultured with LECs.


METHODS
Such factors were isolated using cytokine antibody array membranes, and their effect on TM cells was assessed by analyzing changes in morphology and gene expression. In addition, inhibition of the isolated factors was performed in the co-culture model by adding specific antibodies to the cell culture media.


RESULTS
Transforming growth factor beta-2, interleukin-4 (IL-4), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are presented as candidate cytokines responsible for the observed changes in LEC-TM co-cultures. Culturing TM cells in the presence of VEGF and IL-4 triggered alterations closely reflecting those observed in the LEC-TM co-culture model, where their inhibition significantly hindered the alteration of the TM cells.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest a possible explanation for the development of infantile aphakic glaucoma, based on residual LECs secreting IL-4 and VEGF after removal of congenital cataract, which then alter trabecular meshwork cell morphology and gene expression.
Michael
Inbal
I
Faculty of Bio-Medical Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
Walton
David S
DS
Levenberg
Shulamit
S
D000293:Adolescent; D019138:Antibodies, Blocking / Q000494:pharmacology; D001035:Aphakia / Q000150:complications*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D014129:Trabecular Meshwork / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics* / Q000494:pharmacology
D019138:Antibodies, Blocking; C508598:IL4 protein, human; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D015847:Interleukin-4