title: Dexamethasone influences FGF-induced responses in lens epithelial explants and promotes the posterior capsule coverage that is a feature of glucocorticoid-induced cataract.
abstract: Aberrant spreading of lens epithelial cells along the posterior capsule is the basis for development of glucocorticoid (GC)-induced cataract; the resulting foci of nucleated cells at the posterior pole causing disruptions to normal lens cellular architecture. In this study, rat lens epithelial explants were used to assess the effects of dexamethasone (DEX), a widely used synthetic GC, on FGF2-induced lens cell proliferation and elongation as well as the ability of lens cells to spread and cover the posterior capsule. In the presence of FGF2, DEX significantly promoted lens cell proliferation after 48 h. Cell coverage of the posterior capsule was also enhanced during 5 days culture. In contrast, cell elongation was retarded by the inclusion of DEX. In the absence of FGF2, DEX had no marked effects on any of these cellular processes. Thus, in the presence of FGF2, DEX promoted cell proliferation and posterior capsule coverage but inhibited cell elongation. These results provide insights into the molecular mechanism underlying GC-induced cataract in humans.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Chunxiao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lucy J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Dawes
authors.forename: Yizhi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Frank J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Lovicu
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: McAvoy
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D002386:Cataract / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D057852:Posterior Capsule of the Lens / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D003907:Dexamethasone