Cataract surgery induces retinal pro-inflammatory gene expression and protein secretion.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect(s) of cataract surgery on the expression of pro-inflammatory genes and proteins in the retina using an experimental rodent model.


METHODS
An extracapsular lens extraction was performed in one eye of C57BL/6 mice (n = 24); the contralateral unoperated eyes (n = 24) as well as eyes from unoperated animals (n = 9) served as controls. The neurosensory retina and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)/choroid were collected postoperatively. Expression of genes involved in the acute inflammatory/injury response, including IL-1β, fibroblast growth factor, transforming growth factor β, chemokine CCL2, SDF-1, and complements C3, C4, and factor B (CFB), were examined by real-time PCR and, selectively, by immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
The expression of IL-1β and CCL2 genes was markedly upregulated (>20-fold, P < 0.01) in the neurosensory retina 30 minutes postoperatively and maintained for the 2-week postoperative period of observation; IL-1β expression was also upregulated in RPE/choroid. The expression of complement C3 (>5-fold) and CFB (>30-fold) genes in the neurosensory retina was also significantly upregulated (P < 0.01 in both cases). Increased IL-1b, CCL2, and CFB as well as enhanced C5b-9 immunostaining were observed by confocal microscopy.


CONCLUSIONS
In rodents, lens extraction elicited an acute pro-inflammatory gene and protein response in the posterior segment of the eye, indicating induction of the inflammasome as well as complement activation, as occurs in the "danger" response. A similar response in humans might explain the pathogenesis of cataract surgery-associated retinal complications such as cystoid macular edema.
Xu
Heping
H
Centre for Vision and Vascular Science, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
Chen
Mei
M
Forrester
John V
JV
Lois
Noemi
N
D000818:Animals; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002829:Choroid / Q000276:immunology; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D012160:Retina / Q000276:immunology*; D055213:Retinal Pigment Epithelium / Q000276:immunology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
C515255:CXCL12 protein, human; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12; D016207:Cytokines; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D003165:Complement System Proteins